Ealing Council asks residents for views on smaller HMO licensing

Ealing Council has opened a public consultation on plans to continue licensing smaller houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) across the borough for another five years.

The current additional licensing scheme, which covers shared homes occupied by three or four unrelated people, is due to expire at the end of March 2027. The council wants to replace it with a new five-year scheme starting in April 2027.

Council inspectors found almost 4,900 housing hazards during visits to more than 900 HMOs over the past two years. Between 2021 and 2026 the authority also recorded more than 3,600 antisocial behaviour incidents linked to known HMO properties.

The licensing rules are designed to improve safety standards, reduce overcrowding and give the council stronger tools to tackle poorly managed shared homes. Larger HMOs with five or more occupants are already covered by national mandatory licensing.

Residents, tenants, landlords, businesses and community groups are invited to give their views. The consultation runs until 24 September 2026 and can be found on the council’s Have Your Say website.

For many people living in shared housing in Ealing, the outcome of this consultation will shape how safe and well-managed their homes are over the next five years.