DIY InventoryInventory and check-in reports in Portsmouth
Portsmouth is England's most densely populated city outside London, built mostly on Portsea Island with rows of Victorian and Edwardian terraces. Southsea and Fratton have a large private rented sector, with many shared houses let to University of Portsmouth students and young workers, and every HMO in the city needs a licence. The city centre has post-war estates, towers and purpose-built student blocks, while Gunwharf Quays has modern waterfront apartments. On the mainland, Cosham, Drayton and Paulsgrove are mostly inter-war and post-war estates.
Homes sold in Portsmouth in the last 12 months
| Type | Sales | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Terraced | 1,116 | £275,409 |
| Flat or maisonette | 426 | £174,889 |
| Semi-detached | 239 | £351,123 |
| Detached | 50 | £556,221 |
| Other | 46 | £459,792 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.
What to check at a Portsmouth check-in
- Shared houses in Southsea and Fratton: note the HMO licence number and photograph each bedroom lock, fire doors and closers, alarms and the shared kitchen and bathroom separately.
- Seafront homes in Southsea and Eastney: record salt marks, rust on window fittings and damp on exposed walls.
- Victorian terraces with small yards: photograph damp at the base of walls, rear yards and where bins are kept on narrow streets.
- Waterfront apartments at Gunwharf: note fob counts, parking bays and balconies.
- Low-lying streets near the harbours: photograph any damp low on walls and air bricks, as parts of the island can flood.
- Converted Southsea villas split into flats: record communal hallways, meter cupboards and the key count for each door.
Do it yourself in Portsmouth
- No clerk to book: do it whenever you have the keys, before the tenant moves in or with them there.
- £30 a report instead of a clerk’s fee for every check-in, inspection and check-out.
- The check-out starts from the check-in and shows what has changed, photos side by side.
- Prefer paper? Use the free inventory template.
Inventories in Portsmouth: questions
How much does an inventory clerk cost in Portsmouth?
Clerks usually charge per visit, more for bigger or furnished homes, so a check-in and a check-out together often come to a few hundred pounds. With DIY Inventory each report is £30, whatever the size, and you can do it as soon as you have the keys.
What is the average rent in Portsmouth?
£1,368 a month (ONS, August 2026), up 2.4% on a year earlier. Rents vary a lot by street and type of home; the free property report shows sold prices, the EPC and more for any Portsmouth postcode.
Do landlords need a licence in Portsmouth?
Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme. Additional HMO licensing: Citywide additional HMO licensing from 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2028, covering HMOs of three or four people; larger HMOs need a mandatory licence. Planning rules across the city also restrict new HMOs. Check the council’s own page before letting, as schemes change.
Can I do my own check-in inventory in Portsmouth?
Yes. Landlords, agents and tenants can do it on a phone: a photo checklist for every room, the date and time stamped on every photo, every item’s condition, and both sides sign. The PDF is ready the moment it’s signed.
Will a DIY inventory stand up in a deposit dispute?
Deposit schemes (DPS, TDS, mydeposits) decide on the evidence, above all the condition at check-in compared with check-out. Dated photos of every room, signed by both sides, are exactly that evidence.
Nearby areas
Ready when you have the keys
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