Updates on council services

Last updated: 15 May 2020

New Government guidance means that you can now spend more time outdoors enjoying some of our amazing green and open spaces. But it is still really important to follow social distancing guidance to continue to help limit the spread of coronavirus. Make sure you are considerate of others and: contact with other people

• Keep your distance (two metres apart where possible)
• Wash your hands regularly
• Do not leave home if you or anyone in your household has symptoms

Here’s a handy rundown of what is open again and what will remain closed:

• Tennis and Golf - council run tennis courts will be opened to allow people to use them. Discussions are underway with Active Nation who run the tennis courts at the Outdoor Sports Centre, and Mytime Active who run the municipal golf course, as to when they will reopen facilities. Please check they are open before setting out to use them
• Play Areas, outdoor gyms and parks cafes and associated buildings will remain closed until further guidance is provided
• Car Parks affected by closures, including Mayflower Park, Weston Shore and Mayfield Park will be reopened on 15 May, ready for the weekend
• Skate Parks have remained open during the shutdown
• Public Toilets will remain closed

Please be considerate of others and stay two metres away from people not in your household at all times while using our parks and open spaces.

Last updated 1 June 2020

We announced on 30 March that we would be stopping:

• Kerbside glass collections - collections resumed 4 May 2020
• Kerbside garden waste collections - collections resumed 20 April 2020
• Chargeable bulky waste collections - collections resumed 11 May 2020 (online booking available from 4 May 2020)

General waste and recycling collections for all households and flats will continue to run as normal.

Other services that currently remain unaffected include the Clinical Waste collection service and commercial waste and recycling collections.

The Household Waste and Recycling Centre

The Household Waste and Recycling Centre at City Depot, Millbrook is now open. A 'one in, one out system' is being operated to ensure social distancing is observed. Opening times are 10am - 6pm and other limitations are in place. Please check all details before visiting the site.

Due to safe social distancing measures being in place at the Household Waste and Recycling Centre (HWRC) fewer people and vehicles are allowed on site at any one time, similar to how our supermarkets are operating. As a result, you may have to queue and may experience longer waiting times than usual. Please remember the use of the HWRC at the present time is for the essential disposal of waste only, whereby the storage of such waste could cause a risk of injury or to health.

Please refer to the Government advice about cleaning and disposal of waste.

Glass recycling

With the city’s glass collection service resumed on Monday 4 May 2020. Residents who have stored a large amount of glass items are asked not to overload bins or crates and to stagger the collection of their backlog over a few collection dates. It is not safe for operatives to collect glass items that are not stored in a bin or crate.

It is possible to dispose of glass jars and bottles at one of the city’s many glass recycling banks, but only as part of an essential journey.

Garden waste

Residents who are subscribed to the 2020-21 Garden Waste collection service will see pickups resume on their normal collection day starting on Monday 20 April 2020. Customers will receive a renewal discount for the 2021-22 service that will reflect the duration of disruption to this years' service.

Textiles recycling

It is not currently possible to recycle unwanted clothes, shoes and household textiles at textile recycling banks across the city, or by taking them to a local charity shop. Please store these items in your home, ready to be recycled or re-used when recycling banks and charity shops re-open.

Last updated: 20 May 2020

Southampton Crematorium: Following Government guidance, the number of mourners is restricted in relation to chapel size while following the 2 meter social distancing rules. We ask that no more than 20 people attend. Chairs in the Crematorium chapel have been placed in clusters of 2,3 and 4's for those who have travelled together and also some single chairs are still available. Your funeral director should be able to show you a photo of the lay out, alternatively take a look at our facebook page where you will also be able to view a photo. If you have any special requirements please do not hesitate to contact us directly or through your Funeral Director and we will do our very best to accomodate you if it is within Government Guidlines. Any other attendees will be asked to stay outside the crematorium with at least a two-metre space between them. Cemetery Chapels have been temporarily closed for services.

In line with government advice on staying at home it is crucial that you stay at home if you or members of your household are displaying symptoms of COVID-19 (coronavirus). Staying at home will help control the spread of the virus to family, friends, the wider community and the most vulnerable. If someone you live with has experienced the symptoms of COVID-19 (including the deceased) you must follow guidance to self-isolate for 14 days from the first day they become ill. Those defined as ‘extremely vulnerable’ are also advised not to attend.

Any mourner who is showing coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms (a new continuous cough, a high temperature, or a loss of, or change in, their normal sense of taste or smell) should not attend the funeral as they pose a risk to others; remote participation should be considered

Mourners should also follow the advice on social distancing when travelling to and from the funeral. If mourners are using shared transport with others that they do not normally meet and where social distancing is not possible, they should consider wearing a face covering.

At Southampton Crematorium hand washing facilities are available in our disabled toilet which remains open for public use. Hand sanitisers and tissues are located at the entrance of the chapel. Mourners are encouraged to use tissues to avoid touching their face with their hands, and to dispose of them in the bins provided at the exit of the chapel.

The Book of Remembrance will no longer be available to view at Southampton Crematorium or South Stoneham Cemetery, but can be viewed online.

Another option is a Direct Cremation, a simple cremation which takes place without a service or any mourners in attendance at Southampton Crematorium. It is an affordable, dignified alternative to a full cremation service, and although a direct cremation is unattended, the ashes can be returned to the family, if desired, so they can say their goodbyes in their own way.

However, we appreciate that being unable to attend a traditional funeral and gather to say a proper goodbye with just a limited number of attendees is very painful and upsetting. We are starting to plan memorial and scattering-of-ashes options and services for those who have either had just a direct cremation, or a service with limited family members, so people can come together as a community to remember their loved ones. Dates and times will be advertised here in due course. If you have agreed to receive communication from Southampton Crematorium, an invitation will be posted direct to your door once the services have been organised and the government have lifted all restrictions for gatherings.

Last updated: 29 May 2020

All ceremonies are currently under review following Government guidance of 23 March 2020. Despite some changes to lockdown rules the restrictions on ceremonies remain the same. We are contacting all couples who have ceremonies within the next two weeks on a week by week basis to postpone their marriage or civil partnership. If you would like to postpone your ceremony until 2021 and your ceremony is not within the next three weeks, please email us at registrars@southampton.gov.uk

During the COVID-19 period, you will have one opportunity to move your ceremony to 2021 without having to pay a new booking fee. If you have not decided on a new date for your ceremony, we will keep your booking open ready to be arranged. Please note that any change to your ceremony date may mean that you will need to give fresh notices which carry a statutory fee.

Please follow these guidelines for all appointments and ceremonies:

Registrations

Registering a birth

In line with The General Register Office directive, unfortunately all birth registrations are suspended until further notice. See information on claiming Child Benefit. It is not possible to obtain a birth certificate (normally needed to claim Child Benefit) until the Register Office has re-opened. However, Child Benefit claimants can still complete a CH2 claim form and send it to the Child Benefit Office to begin the claims process, with a note that the birth certificate will follow later. Due to the coronavirus situation, the Government are currently being flexible with when the birth certificate needs to be supplied.

Registering a death

All face to face appointments to register a death have now ceased during the current pandemic situation. Currently all registrations will be completed via a telephone conversation between a registrar and qualified informant. To arrange a telephone appointment please complete this form and email to registrars@southampton.gov.uk. Please remember to ensure the hospital or GP surgery has electronically sent us the medical certificate or the Coroner has confirmed they have sent us the documentation. Please ensure that a valid contact number is included. A registrar will call you and complete the registration.

Notice of marriage / civil partnership appointments

Following Government COVID-19 guidance of 23 March 2020 all appointments to give notice of marriage or civil partnership have been cancelled until further notice.

Certificates

Our standard £11 certificate ordering service is now available. Please follow the link to place your order. Please note that the priority service is still suspended due to high demands on the registration service.

Although we are processing certificates as soon as possible, certificate delivery times are taking longer than usual. This due to pressures that the Royal Mail is experiencing. For up-to-date information visit the Royal Mail website.

Citizenship ceremonies

All citizenship ceremonies are suspended until further notice. We will contact customers affected in due course.

European Settlement verification and scanning service

This service is temporarily suspended. Please see full guidance on how to scan your documents from home using your own device.

Contacting us

If you have any queries please email registrars@southampton.gov.uk. Please do not telephone the office as we need to keep the telephone lines clear for death registrations enquiries.

Last updated: 06 April 2020

Our contact centre colleagues are working incredibly hard in difficult circumstances to serve you. To help us do this, we must focus on our essential services below:

• COVID-19 Helpline (home and business)
• Adult social care
• Children’s social care
• Waste
• Building Control (emergency only)
• Environmental Health (emergency only)
• Housing repairs (emergency only)
• Highways (emergency only)
• Trees (emergency only)
• Street cleansing (emergency only)

We have temporarily closed all our non-essential phone lines. Please can we ask you to go online, where possible, to get services and information. We have increased our number of webchat advisors so we can walk you through our online journeys and be there for you, every step of the way. This will help us keep our phone lines free for our most vulnerable residents. We thank you for your understanding at this time.

Last updated: 21 April 2020

We have stopped all face to face meetings and work clubs, and postponed events and Employability Courses. We are still conducting virtual meetings with clients by phone, email and video messaging. Please contact your Employment Officer for advice. We are still accepting referrals for our projects and new clients will be contacted as soon as possible. You can find advice and guidance online. Follow us on Twitter @sotoncareers for updates.

Last updated: 28 April 2020

The council’s Planning and Building Control departments remain open for business.

We are able to manage the planning application process and all other electronic communications but face to face meetings are cancelled until further notice.

Planning applications should be submitted via the Planning Portal, with any specific planning enquiries sent to Planning@southampton.gov.uk

Planning Enforcement

The Planning Enforcement Team have made the following temporary changes to their service.

• Planning Enforcement Officers are working remotely but are contactable to receive enquiries and complaints on 07956 090360 or via email planning.enforcement@southampton.gov.uk
• Site inspections will be risk assessed to determine whether a site visit is safe to be carried out or whether a site visit has to be carried out at a later date

Building Control

Building Control team have made the following changes to their service, which will have an effect on local business’ involved in development within the city

• Building Control Surveyors are working remotely but are contactable on their mobile phones and email
• All new building regulation applications should be submitted electronically at Submit a plan
• Site Inspection requests will be risk assessed to determine whether a site visit is safe and necessary or whether compliance can be determined by alternative means such as photographic evidence

Last updated: 24 March 2020

The following venues and places are now closed:

• All our libraries
• Our community centres
• Gateway - you can still use our website to report or apply for services instead
• Cash Office - you can still pay the council online
• Tudor House and Gardens
• SeaCity Museum
• Southampton City Art Gallery
• Southampton Archive
• Play parks
• Public toilets and takeaway services in park cafes
• Southampton City Golf
• The Civic Centre is now closed to the public

Further libraries information

• Citizens Advice can still be contacted for advice on 03444 111 306
• Any items on loan will automatically have their return dates extended to 12 weeks and we will not be charging fines on any late items until further notice
• See our eBooks and eAudiobooks
• Stay in touch with libraries on Facebook and libraries on Twitter
• Contact libraries online

Events

Public events: For the most up-to-date information about each of Southampton’s public events please visit the event organiser’s website.

Mayflower 400 events: You can find updated information on Visit Southampton.

Last updated: 30 March 2020

Our parks remain open for you to enjoy a safe daily walk or run to get essential exercise - but please keep at least two metres apart from others.

Some areas and facilities within our parks have been closed or restricted:

• Play areas - all SCC owned play areas have been physically closed
• Multi-use games areas, tennis courts and other fenced hard surfaced courts - all SCC owned courts have been physically closed
• Outdoor gyms and Trim Trails - all SCC owned outdoor gyms and trim trails have been disabled and are not for use during the current lockdown
• Benches - unable to close, public to keep at least two metres apart from others
• Skateparks - unable to close, public to keep at least two metres apart and follow government guidance with regards to group dispersal by the police
• Weston Shore - At the request of Hampshire Police we have closed all car parks at Weston Shore. This is in order to follow the Government’s advice that there should not be gatherings of more than two people in public. We will continue to work with the police to ensure people are complying with these new measures. The decision will be regularly reviewed

Read the latest national guidance on using green spaces.

Last updated: 26 May 2020

Itchen Bridge

Toll Charges on the Itchen Bridge will be reinstated from Monday 1 June 2020.

Civic officials have been reviewing the suspension of the toll – which is used to manage the volume of traffic using the crossing and cover ongoing maintenance costs – over recent weeks and decided to reinstate the charges as more drivers are making longer journeys.

Motorists will need to pay during the following periods:

• Monday to Friday 7am - 6pm
• Saturday 8am - 6pm

A further decision on whether to apply the toll 24 hours a day (a return to its usual operation) will be made after three weeks

Concessionary travel

From Monday 23 March 2020, we will be allowing concessionary travel every day without time restrictions. This is for all eligible pass holders on all bus services across the city. This is to support concessionary pass holders during the coronavirus outbreak and will continue until further notice.

Bus pass applications, replacement and renewals

The Gateway building is now closed until further notice. You can see all our guidance on bus pass applications, replacement and renewals on our SmartCities pages. If you can't apply online, please download and complete the PDF form from those pages and email to the SmartCities team.

Public transport

Please view the websites of individual operators to view the latest updates on their services.

Bus companies operating in Southampton

• Park and Ride between Adanac Park and Southampton General Hospital is no longer running
• Bluestar
• First Southampton
• Unilink
• Xelabus
• Wheelers

Train companies operating from Southampton

• South Western Railway
• Southern Trains
• Cross Country Trains
• Great Western Railway

Coach operators from Southampton

• National Express
• Megabus

Ferry operators from Southampton

• Red Funnel
• Hythe Ferry

Last updated: 28 May 2020

Parking Enforcement

The council will continue to enforce certain parking restrictions throughout the COVID-19 outbreak. These are as follows:

• Yellow Lines
• Keep Clear Markings outside Schools, Hospitals, Fire, Police or Ambulance Stations
• Pedestrian Crossing Zig Zags
• Disabled Bays
• Loading Bays
• Dropped/Raised Crossings
• Bus Stops
• Taxi Ranks
• Motorcycle Bays
• Suspended Bays

We would advise all drivers to give particular attention to these restrictions as they are important for keeping the highway clear for emergency services, supply chain deliveries, public transport and other vital users, as well as maintaining road safety.

Please note that in off street car parks, disabled bays, electric vehicle bays, motorcycles bays and the requirement to park within the bay markings are still subject to enforcement regardless of whether the pay and display restrictions are being enforced.

Information on other parking restrictions is given below.

Pay and Display Parking

From Monday 1 June 2020, all Pay and Display restrictions will be subject to enforcement. If you park a vehicle in any on-street or off street location where a Pay and Display charge is payable, you will need to obtain a ticket from the machine. Notices will be placed at these locations to remind people that a ticket is required.

The exception is West Park Road Multi-Storey Car Park which will be maintained as a free parking facility for the benefit of key workers for the time being.

Residents who are categorised by the NHS as “extremely clinically vulnerable” and have vehicles parked in a council-run on-street or off-street parking facility should contact us before 1 June 2020 so that special arrangements can be made. Affected residents should call 023 8083 3008 extension 1 (Monday-Friday, 8.30am-5pm).

The four barrier controlled car parks (as listed below) will also be switched back on Monday 1 June 2020

• Bedford Place
• Eastgate Street
• Grosvenor Square
• Marlands

As a reminder, enforcement of short stay Pay & Display restrictions was reinstated from Monday 11 May 2020 and is now in effect. This applies to any on street or off street pay and display location where the maximum length of stay is two hours.

Season Ticket Holders

The council has determined that a two month extension will be applied to the expiry date of any Season Ticket and Zone A Permit purchased prior to Friday 3 April 2020 that had yet to expire. The extension will be applied by the Civil Enforcement Officers as they carry out their patrols. Season Tickets for the barrier controlled car parks will have two months added automatically. Season Ticket holders therefore do not need to return their Season Tickets / Zone A permits to have the expiry date amended..

Resident Parking Zones

The city council recognises that many residents continue to stay at home to look after children, self-isolate and observe the Government's instruction to work from home where they can. Therefore, enforcement of permit parking restrictions is still suspended in Resident Parking Zones 1 – 18, 20, 22 & 23 (the other zones are non-residential). The decision to suspend enforcement of permit parking restrictions will allow residents to park without receiving a Penalty Charge Notice and assist in ensuring Government advice is followed.

Hollybrook Cemetery

Enforcement of permit parking restrictions in Hollybrook Cemetery remains suspended to facilitate parking for the additional NHS resources required to tackle the COVID-19 outbreak. This Enforcement of permit parking restrictions in Hollybrook Cemetery remains suspended to facilitate parking for the additional NHS resources required to tackle the COVID-19 outbreak. This only applies to the marked bays within the cemetery. Vehicles should not be left on the “No Waiting” restrictions within the cemetery as this space will be required for cemetery operations such as funerals. The Council recognises this will create a visual impact within the cemetery, but feels that this is outweighed by the need to assist NHS employees during a time where the city faces an unusual and challenging set of circumstances.

Last updated: 06 April 2020

Roadworks, closures and improvements in Southampton remain largely unchanged. We continue to deal with emergency highway and streeet lighting works.

Measures are in place for social distancing to protect, as far as possible, the health of the workforce.

For general highways enquiries continue to contact us but please be aware that there may be a delay in receiving a response

Last updated: 30 March 2020

GP practices

The Southampton City Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has updated its Primary Care referral system to protect patients and staff. This will change the process of getting a GP appointment.

Drug and alcohol support

Our drug and alcohol support services are still available.

Help to stop smoking

Face-to-face stop smoking consultations are now on hold. Your community pharmacies will stay open as much as possible, but they might change how they offer support, for example via telephone or an online call.

Stopping smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health, now even more than ever. See more information about stopping smoking.

Last updated: 22 May 2020

Communication from the Minister of State for Housing

Christopher Pincher MP has written a letter on behalf of the government summarising its advice to social housing tenants at this time.

Much of this information has already been communicated to SCC tenants, and we will continue to provide updates on the support we’re offering and how our services are being impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. Tenants should keeping checking this webpage and our social media channels for the latest information as lockdown restrictions are gradually eased and our services return to normal.

Tenants can also sign up to receive our weekly coronavirus bulletin and monthly Tenants’ Link newsletter.

If you have any comments or concerns please contact your Local Housing Office.

Suspension of housing possessions action

The Coronavirus Act 2020 has set a minimum three month notice period for eviction for statutory tenants in the private and social rented sectors. The court service will suspend all ongoing housing possession action – this means that neither cases currently in the or any about to go in the system can progress to the stage where someone could be evicted. This suspension of housing possessions action will initially last for 90 days.

Local Housing Offices and Neighbourhood Wardens

With isolation measures affecting staffing levels, there’s likely to be fewer members of the team out and about on estates. As we prioritise emergencies and offer support to those who need it most, this will inevitably cause delays in dealing with more routine enquires.

Please only contact your Local Housing Office if you have an urgent issue. If you do need to get in touch, please send us an email and a member of the team will come back to you as soon as they can

Repairs

We are now only able to provide essential services, which means we will only attend to critical health and safety housing repairs until further notice.

This means that while our Customer Contact Centre remains open, we ask that you only contact us in the event of an emergency repair – i.e. one that compromises the safety, security or structure of your home, or anything that affects the supply of essential facilities (water, lighting or heating).

Please report your request using our online tool, or call 023 8083 3006.

If we need to carry out emergency work, our staff will complete a doorstep risk assessment before entering your home and, if appropriate, wear personal protective equipment. For our safety and yours, we will be following social distancing guidelines, which we kindly ask you to respect when we are in your home or communal areas.

Property maintenance and improvements

We are channelling all our resources into emergency works to ensure our tenants have safe homes to live in. We have therefore taken the difficult decision to suspend all non-critical works. Unless you are contacted by a council employee telling you otherwise, please assume no 'business as usual’ planned works or non-emergency repairs are being or will be carried out at your property at this time.

As the restrictions are lifted, we will update this information and tenants with works due will be contacted.

Fire safety improvement works

A range of fire safety improvements, including fitting sprinkler systems and installing new fire doors, have been completed in the majority of our high-rise residential blocks. Whilst there is still further works to be completed, the council’s contractor has decided to pause works for a period following the Government’s recent guidance on social distancing.

Tenant safety remains our priority, so we’ve instructed the contractors to leave all the areas that they have been working in safe. We will also be working with our contractors over the coming weeks to regularly inspect the blocks and reassure tenants.

Please email us if you have any immediate concerns or would like more information.

Townhill Park

We have decided to temporarily suspend the decommission process at Townhill Park.

We feel this is the best solution, until we have more certainty about the resources available to support tenants’ moves. All affected tenants will be contacted directly, via letter, in the coming days, with more information and where to go for support.

Homebid

Our choice-based lettings service, Homebid, has temporarily been taken offline to minimise unnecessary movement during the COVID-19 crisis.

However we are pleased to say that after consultation with our housing association partners, the service will reopen on Friday 5 June 2020 at 8am. All registered users will be able to use the website in the usual way from this date.

Please be aware that social distancing rules are still in force across the UK, so additional safety measures will be in place when you view a property and sign up for a tenancy. It may take longer than usual for homes to become ready to view as our teams continue to prioritise emergency works.

If you have a query about your application please email Housing Allocations quoting your name, address and application number.

For homelessness advice, please email our team.

In an emergency only, please call our out-of-hours line on 023 8023 3344.

Support for vulnerable tenants

We are staying in close contact with tenants across the city who have an identified support need.

As the Government advice for over 70s and people with an underlying health condition is to self-isolate, we will be carrying out this support by phone wherever possible.

If you do require a home visit, don’t worry, we will be in touch with details as soon as possible. Please offer to help any elderly or vulnerable neighbour you are concerned about – either by picking up some shopping or just checking they are okay. And, as per the Government guidelines, remember to keep a distance of two metres from other people at all times.

If you're a telecare user, the service will continue as normal and you should press/pull your alarm for advice and assistance in an emergency. Please only use this facility if you are unable to receive help from other sources, such as family members.

Junior Neighbourhood Wardens

Regrettably, all upcoming activities have been cancelled.

Junior Neighbourhood Wardens and their families will be contacted directly with details of future arrangements.

Last updated: 15 May, 2020

Working on your allotment is a good way of getting exercise and growing food during the crisis. You can visit your allotment with your household members as you are allowed to exercise together. However, we recommend that plot holders go alone to the plot. This will reduce the numbers of people at the allotment at any one time, which is crucial to supporting social distancing and reducing the spread of COVID-19.

If you have a registered helper on your plot they must not attend if they are not a member of your household. It would be sensible to reduce your plot to a minimum level of work, on the basis that you may need to self-isolate at some point.

If you are self-isolating, because you or your household have symptoms, you must not leave the house to visit your allotment. If you are vulnerable and shielding yourself, due to underlying health conditions, you should not visit your allotment.

If you develop a cough or temperature while you are at your plot, you must go home immediately. You should avoid public transport and car sharing with anyone outside your household.

Plot holders must take the following precautionary measures:

• Attend your allotment on your own, or with as few members of your own household as possible
• Only attend if you are well and everyone in your household is well. If you have symptoms, you must self-isolate at home for seven days or until you have a normal temperature, whichever is longer. If you do not have symptoms, but someone you live with does, then you must self-isolated for 14 days in line with national guidance. Self-isolating means you do not leave your home
• Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water when you leave home and return home
• Take a flask of water, soap and paper towels/tissues to the plot with you. After arriving at your plot, either use the water from your flask or use your elbow to press the push taps. Dry your hands thoroughly with your towels
• Use hand sanitiser (with at least 60% alcohol) before opening any gates and locks, and on arriving at the site
• Minimise eating and drinking at your allotment and do not touch your face. Sneeze or cough into a tissue or your elbow, not into your hand
• Do not share your tools and seeds and strictly follow social distancing by staying at least two metres away from anyone that you do not live with
• Remain on your plot and stay the appropriate distance from other plot holders
• Do not gather together for a chat even if you are two metres apart
• If you have to take your children to the plot, ensure that they stay within its confines and do not run around on communal paths and spaces. If you cannot supervise your children so they are not a potential risk to others, then you should not go to the plot
• No unauthorised people allowed on allotment plots
• No registered helpers from a different household
• Bonfires are not permitted at any time during this COVID-19 emergency as many sites are surrounded by houses where vulnerable people may be getting their only bit of fresh air through an open window
• If you are shielding and unable to go to your allotment, please let you Council Allotment Officer know that you cannot visit the site. If possible. This should be done in writing, so we can make allowances for your situation

Failure to follow the guidelines will leave the council with no alternative other than to close all the allotment sites.

We need to keep you, each other and people who are vulnerable safe.

Last updated: 9 April 2020

HMO Licensing

Please note applications for HMO Licences can still be made using the online form. However no standard route applications will be processed at this time, as all HMO inspections have been suspended. All submitted surveyor route applications are being processed and licences will be issued as soon as possible. If you wish to discuss your application or have any questions about HMO licensing please contact HMO@southampton.gov.uk

Renting guidance for tenants and landlords

Due to the current COVID-19 situation the Government has published renting guidance for tenants and landlords.

Complaints about privately rented properties

In relation to privately rented properties, complaints can still be logged using the online form, however we would urge you to try and resolve this directly with your landlord in the first instance. With the exception of emergency situations no home visits are being undertaken at this time. An officer will however endeavour to resolve your issue.

Last updated: 7 April 2020

Due to unprecedented challenges facing the council during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, resources are being diverted from service areas, so that key services can be provided. As such, there will likely be delays in the following areas:

• Providing information requested via the Freedom of Information Act 2000
• Processing data rights requests, subject access requests and third party information requests under GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018
• Processing requests for CCTV footage

The council will continue to process all requests, and responses will be sent as soon as possible.

Privacy policy

As part of our response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have updated our privacy policy.