Brent and Ealing are experiencing significantly more fires in houses of multiple occupation (HMOs) than any other London borough, according to new data from the London Assembly. Between January 2025 and July 2026, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) responded to 31 HMO fires in Brent and 29 in Ealing, the highest figures in the capital.
Data Highlights Disparity
The figures, released by the London Assembly, cover a 19-month period and show that Croydon, Haringey, and Hillingdon each recorded 20 incidents, placing them well behind the top two. However, the London Assembly noted that HMOs are not recorded as a standalone category in LFB’s incident recording systems, making exact figures difficult to determine. The data therefore represents the closest available estimate of fires occurring in premises that may be classified as such.
Brent Council described the figures as “concerning” but pointed out that the borough has one of the highest numbers of HMOs in London, with an estimated 17,000 properties. This context is important when comparing incident numbers across boroughs, a council spokesperson said.
Council Response and Licensing Measures
Earlier this year, Brent Council introduced a new licensing scheme for smaller HMOs with fewer than five tenants, supplementing the existing requirement for all larger HMO landlords to be licensed. This followed evidence that a significant number of such housing was substandard and potentially dangerous.
In the past year, Brent inspected and assessed more than 5,000 properties as part of its work to improve standards across the borough’s private housing stock. The council prioritises “larger and higher-risk” HMOs for inspection, and where concerns are identified, landlords are required to carry out remedial works, with enforcement action taken where appropriate.
A Brent Council spokesperson said: “These figures are concerning and we recognise the seriousness of any fire in someone’s home. The safety of Brent residents is our priority, and we are committed to doing everything we can to ensure people living in houses of multiple occupation have safe and properly managed homes.”
Stricter Rules Elsewhere
Croydon, another borough with high HMO fire numbers, has introduced stricter planning and licensing rules for HMOs, with a new licensing scheme coming into effect next month. The South London borough has seen an increase in HMO applications, processing 405 new applications between 2021 and 2025, but rejecting 266 of them, making it one of the toughest local authorities in the country for HMO approval.
Data from Planning Lens's 'The HMO Squeeze' report revealed that Brent is one of five London local authorities—alongside Croydon, Waltham Forest, Barnet, and Haringey—that refuse more than half of HMO conversion applications. Despite this and the licensing scheme, Brent Council has said that a “significant number” of HMOs still pose a risk to residents.
In March, a landlord in Wembley was ordered to pay more than £90,000 after being found to have crammed 18 people into an illegal HMO. The property, described by Brent Council as a “dangerously overcrowded fire hazard,” had no working fire alarms.
The council spokesperson added: “Last year alone, we inspected and assessed more than 5,000 licensed properties as part of our proactive work to improve housing standards, identify potential risks and keep residents safe. We will continue to use our inspection and enforcement powers to drive up standards across the borough and reduce the risks faced by residents living in HMOs.”
