Hillingdon council in London says it’s considering additional licensing rules on HMOs.
The area has seen a significant rise in private renting in the last decade, with more than a quarter of homes in the borough in the private sector at the 2021 census, a 7.8% increase between 2011 and 2021 – the second largest rise in London.
Currently, the council operates a mandatory licensing scheme for large HMOs, which are properties that are occupied by five or more residents from two or more households sharing bathroom or kitchen facilities.
The additional HMO licensing scheme could apply to small HMOs that are occupied by three or four residents from two or more households that share a kitchen or bathroom and not already covered by the existing scheme.
A statement from the council says: “Additional HMO licensing would help to ensure properties were safe, well-managed, and contain basic facilities for tenants, while providing the council with greater powers to hold landlords to account and inspect properties to check they meet the required standards. It would also help address ASB and waste management issues that can arise from unlicensed properties.”
The council is currently undertaking a Housing Tenure Survey, a detailed data analysis, to assess whether these further regulations are justified under the Housing Act 2004. If the evidence of the survey supports introducing additional licensing, a full public consultation will be required and is scheduled to launch in autumn, if needed.
A spokesperson for the council says: “For many residents in our borough HMOs are an affordable and flexible housing option.
“However, it is clear that many HMOs are having a detrimental impact on the local community and additional licensing measures would provide us with greater scrutiny of landlords, protecting both the tenants and local neighbourhoods.
“We’re determined to keep residents safe from harm and ensure everyone can live in safe, good quality homes.”
This article is taken from Landlord Today