London council plans stricter HMO regulations to ‘keep residents safe’

A London council is to investigate tougher regulations for Houses in Multiple Occupancy (HMOs) to safeguard residents and improve living conditions, it says.

Hillingdon Council has made the decision after a surge in private renting and growing concerns about substandard housing, criminal landlords and antisocial behaviour.

The borough has seen a big rise in private rented homes, with more than 25% of homes privately rented in 2021, marking a 7.8% rise from 2011, the second highest in London.

This growth has spotlighted issues with HMOs, prompting the council to explore additional licensing measures.

‘Keep residents safe from harm’

Hillingdon’s cabinet member for planning, housing and growth, Cllr Steve Tuckwell, said: “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.”

He added: “We’re determined to keep residents safe from harm and ensure everyone can live in safe, good quality homes.”

HMO licenses in Hillingdon

Currently, Hillingdon enforces mandatory licensing for larger HMOs, defined as properties housing five or more people from multiple households sharing facilities like kitchens or bathrooms.

The proposed rules would extend oversight to smaller HMOs, accommodating three or four tenants from different households, not covered by existing regulations.

These new measures aim to ensure properties meet safety and management standards, offering tenants basic amenities while empowering the council to inspect homes.

The initiative also seeks to curb anti-social behaviour and improve waste management linked to unregulated HMOs.

Carry out a survey

The council is now undertaking a Housing Tenure Survey under the Housing Act 2004.

It says that should the survey justify further regulations, a public consultation will begin this autumn.

The survey’s findings and recommendations will be presented to the council’s Cabinet in February 2026.