Property Services Frequently Asked Questions

Havant Borough Council only keeps records regarding land that is or was formerly owned or leased by the Council.  If the land is not owned by Havant Borough Council then the following points of contact may be useful:

• The Land Registry – Keeps records of all registered land interests.  For more information on the Land Registry please click here to visit the Land Registry's website or alternatively telephone them on 0844 892 1111.
• Portsmouth City Council – Own significant areas of land in the Havant area, particularly in Leigh Park, Crookhorn and Wecock.  Please contact them regarding land and building ownership enquiries on 023 9282 2251.
• Hampshire County Council – Own areas of land in the Havant area.  Please contact them regarding land and building ownership enquiries on 01962 847867. Hampshire County Council also controls and maintains the adopted highway as Highway Authority within Havant Borough. If you have an enquiry regarding adopted highway please call: 0845 603 5633 or alternatively email: roads@hants.gov.uk.

How do I go about purchasing an area of Council owned land?

The majority of land owned by the Council is open space.  If there is an area of open space adjoining your property that you would like to purchase and think may be surplus to the requirements of the Council please apply in writing to:

The Estates Team Leader

Havant Borough Council

Public Service Plaza

Civic Centre Road

Havant Borough Council

Hants

PO9 2AX

Please include a sketch of the area you wish to purchase together with approximate dimensions and an explanation of what the land will be used for.  We will then write back to you to confirm whether the land is owned by the Council. If you wish to proceed with the purchase of the land it will then be necessary for the Estates Team to commence internal consultations to check that there are no objections to the sale.  There will be an admin charge of £100 for carrying out these consultations (this is your contribution towards the cost of officer time spent investigating whether the land can be sold by the Council).  Please note that purchasing land from the Council can be a long and costly procedure and you would be responsible for a number of costs, including the following:

• The purchase price of the land.  This will be assessed following receipt of the £100 admin fee and when the Council is able to proceed with your request to purchase the land.
• The Council’s Legal and Estates costs.  These are estimated as £500 each (i.e. a total of £1000).  Please note that if the sale proceeds the £100 admin fee already paid will be count towards the Estates costs.
• The cost of obtaining planning permission for a change of use from open space.  This is £335.
• If planning permission is granted it would be necessary to advertise the sale of Council owned open space in accordance with s123 (2)(a) and (b) of the Local Government Act 1972.  You would be responsible for the costs of these advertisements which are likely to be in the region of £700 (please note that this fee is set by the local newspaper and is therefore variable).  These costs would not be refundable if the sale should not proceed for any reason.
• Your own legal costs and the costs of any new fencing or boundary treatment required.  You will be advised as to the height and type of fencing by the Development Control Section should the disposal proceed.
• Any additional costs that arise as a result of restrictive covenants that have been placed on the land.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL THE FEES QUOTED ABOVE SHOULD BE USED AS A GUIDE ONLY AND ARE SUBJECT TO PERIODIC REVIEW AND MAY NOT REPRESENT WHAT IS CURRENTLY CHARGED BY THE COUNCIL.  ALSO SOME OF THESE FEES MAY VARY DEPENDING ON THE NATURE OF THE TRANSACTION

Does the Council currently own any Council houses?

Havant Borough Council no longer owns any Council Houses.  All Council houses were transferred to Hermitage Housing Association (now Guinness Hermitage) in the early 1990’s together with any information relating to houses that were purchased from the Council prior to the housing transfer under the right to buy scheme.  If you would like to make enquiries about renting a residential property or have a query about a former Havant Borough Council house that you own please call Guinness Hermitage on 02392 794500.

Please note that Portsmouth City Council also own a number of Council Houses in Leigh Park, Crookhorn and Wecock.  If you have any enquiries relating to these properties please call 02392 822251.

How do I find out about private business premises that are available to rent or buy in the area?

Invest-in-Portsmouth maintain a comprehensive database of available commercial properties in the Portsmouth area.  For more information please go to the Invest-in-Portsmouth website by visiting www.invest-in-portsmouth.co.uk

Does the Council currently have any grazing land available to rent?

The Council has two areas of land that are used for grazing which are currently let.  However we do have a mailing database where we keep a record of people that are interested in leasing or purchasing land from the Council.  If you would like to add your contact details to this database please call (023) 9244 6244 or email property@havant.gov.uk.

Alternatively I would suggest contacting local agricultural agents such as:

• Henry Adams and Partners (Tel: 01243 532223)
• Ian Judd and Partners (Tel: 01489 896422)
• Stride and Son (Tel: 01243 782626).

How do I find out about land or properties that are available to rent from the Council?

Please click here for a list of available Council owned land and premises

I am looking for a domestic service contractor to carry out some work on my property.  Do you have a list of approved contractors that you could send me?

Havant Borough Council does not have its own Approved Contractor List.  However you may want to refer to the Buy With Confidence website which lists over 600 businesses.  Please click here to visit the Buy With Confidence website.  The Buy With Confidence initiative was started by Hampshire County Council to help businesses comply with the law whilst improving consumer protection.

How do I go about reporting:

1. Vandalism of Council property?
2. Fly tipping on Council land?
3. Trespass on Council land?

If you should become aware of any of the above issues then please report this to our Customer Services Team on 02392 446019 or email Customer.Services@havant.gov.uk.  The Customer Services Team will then ensure that this is reported to the relevant Council Officer for action.

How do I book a room at the Public Service Plaza?

From January 2012 it will be possible to book meeting rooms at the Public Service Plaza when they are not being used for council business.  Our meeting rooms can accommodate between 10 and 100 people

Please click here for further information