Hillingdon Council has approved a new boroughwide additional licensing scheme for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) and extending its regulatory oversight of smaller shared properties.
The council’s Cabinet agreed to adopt the scheme on 19 February following a 10-week public consultation held between 31 October and 11 January.
More than 1,000 responses were received, with 80% supporting the introduction of additional licensing.
The move will require landlords of shared properties with fewer than five residents from two or more households to apply for a licence and comply with new conditions covering safety, property standards and management practices.
LANDLORD DISCOUNT
Licences will be valid for five years and cost £1,401, with a 10% discount available for accredited landlords.
The council already operates a mandatory licensing scheme for larger HMOs, defined as properties occupied by five or more residents from two or more households sharing facilities.
Under the new timetable, the additional licensing scheme can only come into force three months after approval. Applications will open on 20 May, with full compliance required by 23 August.
The scheme will operate alongside the boroughwide Article 4 Direction introduced in December, which requires planning permission before a family home can be converted into an HMO.
COMMUNITY PROTECTION
Cllr Steve Tuckwell, Hillingdon Council’s Cabinet Member for Planning, Housing and Growth, says: “Residents have been clear, they are tired of communities being impacted by poorly managed HMOs and that is why we are taking co-ordinated and comprehensive action to introduce these new measures.
“Boroughwide licensing gives us the power to hold landlords accountable, protect tenants from poor housing conditions, and safeguard our neighbourhoods from ASB.
“Safe living standards are a fundamental right for every resident. The vast majority of professional landlords who provide decent, much-needed homes have nothing to fear from these measures.
“However, the message should be heard, we will step in where residents are being let down and will continue to use every tool at our disposal to protect our communities.”
