Gloucester City Council has launched two important consultations inviting residents, landlords, tenants, businesses, and community groups to share their views on tackling rogue landlords and improving private rented housing standards across the city.
Homes of Multiple Occupation (HMOs), defined as residences where three or more people from separate households share facilities like kitchens or bathrooms, have grown increasingly common in Gloucester. While many HMOs are well-managed and provide essential housing options, some suffer from overcrowding, poor conditions, and security issues. These problems often lead to increased anti-social behaviour, community complaints, and strain on local services such as waste collection and parking.
HMOs also impact the wider housing market by reducing the availability of affordable family homes. Landlords often prefer converting properties into multi-tenant HMOs as they can generate higher rental income, which contributes to a decline in family-sized accommodation.
READ MORE: Gloucestershire Chief Constable Rod Hansen Cleared of Recruitment Misconduct Allegations
READ MORE: Dawid Malan Sets Sights on Trophies with Gloucestershire Signing
Council leader Jeremy Hilton (LD, Kingsholm and Wotton) emphasized the need for better regulation: “The unchecked rise of HMOs has altered the character of our communities. Houses originally built for families are now repeatedly converted into HMOs, changing neighbourhood dynamics. Our current regulations only cover larger HMOs with five or more tenants, leaving many unregulated.”
To address this, Gloucester City Council proposes new licensing for all HMOs regardless of size, along with an Article 4 Direction in the six wards most affected. This will require planning permission for all new HMOs, focusing on managing their impact on parking, waste, and neighbourhood character without outright banning new HMOs.
With approximately 1,680 HMOs citywide but only 340 currently licensed under existing rules, these measures aim to raise housing standards, support responsible landlords, and maintain balanced, cohesive communities.
The consultations are open until 11 May, with public meetings scheduled for 15 April and an online forum to collect feedback. Landlords will also have an opportunity to discuss the proposals at a forum on 2 April. More information and participation details are available on the Gloucester City Council website.