West London Borough Implements Strict HMO Licensing Scheme Following Safety Concerns
Hillingdon Council in West London has formally approved a comprehensive crackdown on Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs), addressing years of resident complaints and a surge in shared housing across neighbourhoods. The new policy targets smaller HMOs previously exempt from mandatory licensing, now requiring all homes with three or more people from two or more households sharing facilities to obtain council approval.
Safety Hazards and Hidden HMOs Exposed
A Housing Tenure Survey conducted in August 2025 uncovered alarming evidence of poor property management and tenant safety risks. The report found that 30 per cent of HMOs in Hillingdon are predicted to have serious safety hazards, a rate three times higher than the national average. With an estimated 2,537 HMOs in the borough, only 666 are currently licensed, leaving at least 1,871 'hidden' HMOs operating without council oversight.
Over the past five years, there have been 3,850 antisocial behaviour incidents linked to HMOs. Residents in areas like Yiewsley have reported issues including drugs, pests, and harassment, with one street describing HMOs as ruining their community by bringing "drugs, rats, and men staring at girls."
New Licensing Requirements and Fees
The licensing scheme, set to run for five years with potential renewal, mandates that landlords pay a fee of £1,401 and adhere to strict conditions. These include:
- Meeting stringent health and safety standards
- Complying with space limits
- Taking reasonable steps to prevent antisocial behaviour, such as adding behavioural clauses to tenancy agreements and investigating complaints
- Providing sufficient external bins and written recycling information to tenants
- Actively responding to waste complaints
A 10-week public consultation showed strong support, with 80 per cent of over 1,000 respondents agreeing with the scheme. Supporters believe it will help identify negligent landlords and improve neighbourhood quality.
Additional Planning Restrictions
Alongside the licensing scheme, the council enacted an immediate Article 4 Direction on December 10, 2025, applying borough-wide. This requires full planning permission to convert a family home into an HMO, removing permitted development rights that previously allowed such conversions without full approval.
Landlords can begin submitting licence applications on May 20, with a deadline of August 24, after which full council enforcement will commence. Failure to comply may result in enforcement action, including fines or prosecution.
This crackdown represents a significant shift in Hillingdon's approach to housing regulation, aiming to enhance safety and community well-being while holding landlords accountable for property conditions and tenant behaviour.
