Hounslow’s Labour Administration approved a tough new licensing scheme for HMOs in the Borough.
The Housing Act 2004 already requires mandatory licensing of HMOs occupied by five or more persons living in two or more separate households.
The additional licensing scheme will apply to:
- All HMOs as defined by section 254 Housing Act 2004, which are occupied by 3 or more persons in 2 or more households sharing bathroom, toilet and or kitchen facilities
- All HMOs, as defined in section 257 of the Housing Act 2004, which consist of self-contained units and where the building and all the dwellings in the building are either in the same ownership or considered by the housing authority to be effectively in the same control.
The council introduced a borough wide additional HMO licensing scheme in August 2020.
This additional licensing renewal will extend the scheme to ensure better enforcement, protecting both tenants and local residents:
- Better waste management: Conditions will require landlords to manage waste recycling, reducing fly-tipping and vermin.
- Reduced ASB: Licensing officers will work with police to address ASB linked to HMOs
- Enhanced enforcement: Teams will no longer have to give notice of inspections, meaning irresponsible landlords cannot try to conceal issues.
- Data-driven enforcement: A comprehensive HMO database will enable proactive enforcement.
- Support for landlords and tenants: An education-first approach will allow landlords to do the right thing, while making tenants aware of their rights.
- Fully funded: All of these additional measures will be funded through licence fees.
Cllr Tom Bruce, Cabinet Member for Assets, Regeneration, and Development commented that:
“These measures are part of our mission to make Hounslow a cleaner, safer, fairer place to live – a place where the rights of tenants and residents are respected.
“Most landlords are responsible and do the right thing, but residents often raise concerns about noise, rubbish or anti-social behaviour associated with some HMOs.
“That’s why we’re introducing these additional licensing measures. We want to ensure that tenants live in safe, spacious, sanitary homes on cleaner, quieter streets.
“These tougher new licensing measures are about providing protection for tenants and restoring respect in our communities.”