Brent Council has received five applications for houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) in the past few weeks, all awaiting a decision. The proposals include converting a three-storey semi-detached house in Wembley into a nine-bedroom, 16-person HMO.
The North London borough has seen a surge in HMO applications, with properties in Cricklewood, Wembley, and Edgware targeted for conversion. The move comes amid growing local calls to pause all HMO approvals in the area.
Licensing scheme aims to improve standards
Brent Council has implemented a borough-wide HMO licensing scheme for smaller HMOs with fewer than five tenants, complementing the existing requirement for all larger HMO landlords to be licensed. According to the local authority, this was due to evidence that a significant number of these properties are "still substandard and potentially dangerous."
The rapid growth of HMOs across London has drawn criticism from residents, who raise concerns about the loss of family-sized homes, increased antisocial behaviour, and imbalanced communities.
Details of the five applications
The five applications submitted to Brent Council this month are as follows:
- 13 Walton Close, Cricklewood – Conversion of a residential property into a four-bedroom, four-person HMO, with internal alterations including en-suite bathrooms for each room. The renovation is expected to cost up to £2m, according to the applicant. The property will provide approximately 28.1 sqm of communal space, exceeding the 20 sqm minimum for four residents.
- 27 Uxendon Crescent, Wembley – Conversion of a three-storey semi-detached house into a nine-bedroom, 16-person HMO. Rooms will be spread over ground, first, and loft floors, with a rear garden. All but one bedroom will exceed the 12.5 sqm minimum, and six will have en-suites. Communal space meets the required 20 sqm.
- 55 Chalkhill Road, Wembley – Conversion of a three-storey terraced property into a six-bedroom, six-person HMO, including a single-storey rear extension. The property already operates as a five-bedroom HMO. All bedrooms will have en-suites except one, and a 44 sqm communal kitchen, living, and dining room is planned. The application states the proposal "would provide good quality shared accommodation in a highly accessible and sustainable location."
- 342 Preston Road, Wembley – Conversion of a semi-detached property into a six-bedroom, nine-person HMO. Bedrooms will be spread across three storeys, with one bathroom, a shower room, and a separate WC. Communal space exceeds the minimum requirement.
- 193 Beverley Drive, Edgware – Conversion of a three-storey semi-detached house into a seven-bedroom, ten-person HMO. Plans include demolition of an existing side garage, a two-storey side extension, and a part first-floor rear extension. A previous application was refused due to "deficiencies" in communal space, which have now been rectified. The applicant states: "Those deficiencies have now been addressed through revised plans and supporting technical reports."
Impact on housing supply and community balance
HMOs in the private rental sector are increasingly being used to address a shortfall in social housing, prompting many London councils to introduce tougher rules to drive up standards and control the loss of family-sized homes.
All five applications remain pending, with no decision dates announced. The outcome will be closely watched by residents and housing advocates alike, as Brent continues to balance the demand for affordable accommodation with community concerns.
