With concern over HMOs (Homes of Multiple Occupation) mounting in the borough (not least in the Randall Avenue Planning Application coming up at Planning Committee this week) it is appropriate that Brent Council is consulting on the private rented sector. The expansion of the sector and unavailability of council homes means that that almost half of homes in Brent are now privately rented.
In today's announcement Brent Council says:
Brent residents are being asked to have their say on plans to improve living conditions in private rented homes.
An online survey, starting today, invites tenants, landlords, and anyone affected to give their views on Brent Council’s proposals to improve living standards for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
These new plans are an extension of a previous programme that ran for five years and ended in January, which helped improve the quality of private rented homes in the borough. During that time, more than 2,500 HMOs were licensed.
HMO licensing makes sure that houses are safe, well-managed, and provide basic facilities for tenants. Council officers inspect licensed properties to ensure they meet the required standards.
A mandatory licence is needed for HMOs with five or more people from two or more households. Additional licensing covers other types of HMOs, typically the smaller with three or more people from two or more different households, like those living in bedsits.
Councillor Fleur Donnelly-Jackson, Cabinet Member for Housing and Residents' Services, said:
Over the past 20 years, the number of privately rented homes in Brent has grown, and now makes up almost half of all homes in the borough. We want to make sure these homes are safe and good quality for tenants.
While we have seen significant improvements, we believe that another additional HMO licensing scheme is necessary to maintain and improve the management of HMOs in Brent. We want to encourage residents to give their opinions on these new proposals for HMOs.
The HMO additional licensing consultation, launched today (10 March 2025) will run for eleven weeks, ending on 26 May 2025. The survey takes about 15 minutes to complete.
Call to action:
- You can take part in the consultation by completing the online questionnairehttps://haveyoursay.brent.gov.uk/en-GB/
- Paper copies can be requested calling 020 8937 2384/5 or emailing prslicensing@brent.gov.uk
There is detailed documentation available on line but this sums up the background issues:
We believe that a further additional HMO licensing scheme is necessary to maintain and improve the management of HMOs in the borough. HMOs pose a higher risk to occupants, especially when poorly managed.
The previous additional HMO licensing scheme has helped us improve standards and management practices of many HMOs across the borough. However, the evidence shows that there is a significant number of properties that are still substandard and potentially dangerous. Even landlords with good intentions may not always be aware of the latest legal and safety requirements. These HMOs pose a risk to the health, safety, and wellbeing of tenants, cause problems for neighbours, and demand substantial intervention from council enforcement services. It is important that the council uses all available tools to improve conditions for tenants in this sector. Licensing is one of the tools and plays a key role in this effort.
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