The Hounslow Council is offering consultations on proposed extensions of mandatory licensing requirements, including all small HMOs that help address anti-social behavior.
Councillor Tom Bruce (pictured), a Cabinet member of the Hounslow Council for assets, regeneration and development, says about a third of residents living in the private rental sector across the borough, that HMOS is an important and much-needed source of accommodation. 
Difficult to manage
However, he added that HMOs are the most difficult to manage real estate in the sector and can present serious harm risks to the health and safety of tenants and the problems of sustained antisocial behavior.
The proposed new scheme extends mandatory licensing requirements to include all small HMOs where the facility is shared and occupied by three or four people.
This includes not only HMOs that are not subdivided into self-contained flats or studios without proper building regulations approval, but flats in multiple occupations located in large dedicated blocks.
This regulation is extremely important to help reduce antisocial behavior and social problems caused by overcrowding and cramped living conditions. ”
Since the introduction of additional HMO licenses in August 2020, the Council has issued formal and informal enforcement interventions.
937 Formal Enforcement Action Warning 652 Notice requesting a gas and electricity safety certificate 51 civil penalty fines to repair defects in the home or provide 135 notifications to ban dangerous accommodations
Bruce said: “This regulation is extremely important to help reduce social problems caused by antisocial behavior and overcrowding and cramped living conditions. This will affect everyone in our community, so please use this opportunity to say what you say.”
The deadline for discussions is Friday, May 16th, 2025.
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