Gloucester City Council is set to tackle concerns over unregulated houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) amid rising safety and anti-social behaviour issues. An HMO is defined as a property where three or more people live in separate households, sharing facilities like kitchens or bathrooms.
While many HMOs are properly managed, unregulated ones have been linked to problems such as overcrowding, poor living conditions, and a lack of housing security. These issues often lead to increased community complaints, crime, and anti-social behaviour in affected areas.
Moreover, unregulated HMOs contribute to waste management challenges including fly-tipping, strain on parking availability, and pressure on council services like waste collection and housing inspections. They also reduce the availability of affordable housing for local residents, as landlords may pay higher prices to convert family homes into rental HMOs.
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The council plans to introduce licensing requirements for all HMO landlords to ensure properties are well maintained and meet minimum health and safety standards. Currently, only HMOs housing five or more tenants require a licence, with fines for non-compliance increasing from £30,000 to £40,000 under upcoming government renter’s rights reforms.
Pending approval, the new licensing scheme could be implemented in 2026 after resident consultations. Additionally, Gloucester intends to impose an Article 4 Direction in areas with a high concentration of HMOs—Kingsholm and Wotton, Westgate, Barton and Tredworth, Moreland, Kingsway, and Elmbridge—requiring landlords to obtain planning permission before converting homes into HMOs. This measure may come into effect in April 2027, subject to further consultations.
Council leader Jeremy Hilton, who previously advocated for addressing the conversion of family homes into rental HMOs, emphasized the impact on community cohesion, particularly in wards such as Kingsholm and Wotton. “It took a Liberal Democrat administration to reach this point,” he said. “On December 10, I will present a report to the cabinet proposing full licensing of HMOs and Article 4 Directions in the six most affected wards. This was a manifesto commitment and a key part of our corporate plan.”
Hilton also noted the recent support from the overview and scrutiny committee for these measures, signaling a significant step forward in managing the city’s housing challenges.