Plan to tackle 'rogue landlords' with new HMO licences launched

A North London council is looking to further clamp down on ‘rogue landlords’ due to evidence that a significant number of houses of multiple occupancy (HMO) are ‘still substandard and potentially dangerous’. The private rental sector is increasingly being used to address a shortfall in social housing, and the council wants to use tougher rules to ‘drive up standards’ and make them safer.

Brent Council is running a consultation on plans to introduce a borough-wide HMO licensing scheme that would come into force in autumn of this year. If approved, the council would extend a previous programme, which ran for five years and ended in January, during which time more than 2,500 HMOs were licensed.

The local authority claims the previous licensing scheme helped it ‘improve standards and management practices’ of many HMOs across the borough but there are still a ‘significant number’ that still pose a risk to residents.

A consultation document states: “These HMOs pose a risk to the health, safety, and wellbeing of tenants, cause problems for neighbours, and demand substantial intervention from council enforcement services. It is important that the council uses all available tools to improve conditions for tenants in this sector. Licensing is one of the tools and plays a key role in this effort.”

HMO licensing makes sure that houses are ‘safe, well-managed, and provide basic facilities for tenants’, according to the council, and gives powers to officers to inspect licensed properties to ensure they meet the required standards. A mandatory licence is already needed for HMOs with five or more people from two or more households, with the additional licensing set to cover typically smaller HMOs with three or more people from two or more different households.

There is currently a shortage of affordable housing in Brent, and while buying a house is out of reach for many residents, the council claims the demand for social housing ‘far outstrips the supply’. This means more and more people are relying on privately rented accommodation, which currently makes up 36 per cent of the borough’s total housing stock and is expected to continue to rise.

The council suggests that the licensing scheme will benefit both tenants and landlords alike by ensuring high standards are maintained and fewer disputes, resulting in longer and more sustainable tenancies. Licensing imposes specific obligations on the landlord to demonstrate that their property is safe while enabling the council to enforce rules and, through effective communication, provide tenants with information to ensure they are aware of their rights and obligations.

Landlords are said to benefit from the council working with them to ‘build their professionalism’ by providing information regarding fire safety and maintaining ‘consistent property management standards’, as well as the local authority being able to take a robust approach to ‘rogue landlords’ and create a ‘level playing field’ within the sector.

'We want to make sure these homes are safe and good quality for tenants'

The licence would cost landlords £1,040 for the application, processing and inspection of up to five habitable rooms - either a lounge, dining room or bedroom - and a further £25 per additional room. If the property licence holder or managing agent is accredited to the London Landlord Accreditation Scheme, the council has proposed a £40 discount per property application.

Brent Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Residents' Services, Cllr Fleur Donnelly-Jackson, said: “Over the past 20 years, the number of privately rented homes in Brent has grown, and now makes up almost half of all homes in the borough. We want to make sure these homes are safe and good quality for tenants.”

She added: “While we have seen significant improvements, we believe that another additional HMO licensing scheme is necessary to maintain and improve the management of HMOs in Brent. We want to encourage residents to give their opinions on these new proposals for HMOs.”

The HMO additional licensing consultation was launched on Monday (March 10) and will run for a total of eleven weeks, ending on May 26. Residents are being encouraged to take part in the online survey before the closing date.

If you have had a bad experience living in an HMO in Brent, you can tell your story by contacting grant.williams@reachplc.com.

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