Sutton council is to consult on a scheme to licence all the borough’s HMOs.
If agreed, the new regime will start in spring 2026.
In Sutton, a mandatory licence is already needed for HMOs with five or more people from two or more households. Property owners in Sutton who want to convert homes into HMOs now need planning permission.
The new council policy would cover smaller HMOs with three or more people who are not related.
All existing and new HMOs within the borough will need to apply for a licence.
The new powers would also allow council officers to inspect licensed properties to ensure they meet the required standards.
The HMO landlord would have to prove that their property is safe, and pay for a licence – the council has not yet released the cost.
The consultation runs until September 8 and a council spokesperson says: “The vast majority of private landlords offer good-quality homes, but we have been taking steps over the past few years to ensure HMOs in the borough meet a good standard.
“We need to strike the right balance between building new homes and also making sure they are in the right places, are of a high quality and do not impact negatively on existing communities.
“Introducing a licensing scheme for all HMOs would make a real difference to those tenants. It will also protect the borough’s existing family-sized accommodation from being converted into smaller flats, as well as reducing anti-social behaviour, environmental crimes and parking pressures.”
This article is taken from Landlord Today