Are HMOs A Growing Problem Across Havering?

As the number of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) continues to rise across Havering, concerns are mounting over their long-term impact on neighbourhoods, services, and council resources.

Houses in Multiple Occupation, commonly known as HMOs, have become an increasingly common feature of Havering’s housing landscape. While they provide affordable accommodation for many during the cost-of-living crisis, their rapid growth is creating serious challenges for both residents and the local authority. Data from Havering Council shows that licensed HMOs in the borough have steadily increased, from 267 in 2019 to over 300 today. This growth reflects rising demand for low-cost housing, but it also comes with a price.

Many residents are raising the alarm. Complaints about overcrowding, persistent noise, fly-tipping, and anti-social behaviour linked to poorly managed HMOs are becoming more frequent. Parking problems have also worsened in streets where multiple tenants live in one property, each with their own vehicle. Local services are struggling to cope, and neighbourhoods are being stretched to their limits. In some cases, what were once quiet family streets are now dominated by short-term tenants and transient housing setups.

The council has attempted to get ahead of the issue by introducing a mix of mandatory, additional, and selective licensing schemes to keep landlords in check and protect tenants. In the past year alone, Havering Council has issued over 133 penalty notices, carried out 27 multi-agency enforcement operations, and imposed more than £300,000 in fines against rogue landlords.

However, residents argue that the measures don’t go far enough. One Harold Hill resident told us: “We’re not against people needing a place to live, but these homes are turning into mini hostels. No one checks them properly and it’s the rest of us that suffer.” Despite council efforts, the number of unlicensed and poorly managed HMOs is still rising. With only a limited number of officers available to inspect properties and follow up on complaints, enforcement is patchy at best.

At the heart of the issue is a difficult balancing act: how to meet the increasing demand for affordable housing without damaging the character, safety, and stability of residential communities. Many residents say their neighbourhoods feel neglected, while others point out that HMOs are changing the very nature of life in Havering. The situation is unlikely to improve without stronger powers, greater funding, and a coordinated strategy across the borough. Officers are doing what they can, but many fear that Havering is already falling behind.

HMOs are not inherently a problem—they provide a vital solution in a housing market under pressure. But without stricter regulation and sufficient resources to enforce existing laws, the growth of HMOs may become one of the borough’s biggest long-term headaches. For now, the council is encouraging the public to report concerns and is ramping up inspections, but with more HMOs than ever, the question remains—can Havering keep up?

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