Community Life

Houses with multiple occupants (HMOs) run by illegal landlords are on the increase and Vroydon Council is determined to stamp the practice out.

In recent weeks, several of these houses have caught fire as a result of faulty electrical wiring. 

Eight people narrowly escaped from one house in Thornton Heath with their lives when, the property they were living in, was gutted by a blaze.

Cabinet members are also calling on neighbours to notify them if they suspect houses in their roads are being used for multiple occupancy.

The problem

The council monitors 340 licensed HMOs across the borough but, estimates there are at least half this many again that are unregistered. 

In the past two years alone, it's discovered 230 new homes with multiple occupancy.

“We’re not trying to stop legitimately licensed properties. HMOs play an invaluable role in housing provision, especially for single households who can’t afford to rent one bedroom flats”. says Cllr Dudley Mead, cabinet member for housing.

But, he goes on to warn that the authority will not hesitate to prosecute and, that if someone were to die in an unregistered property, the landlord could be faced with manslaughter charges.

" If we find a situation like this, particularly where there have been a fire, then most likely the council will prosecute," warns Cllr Mead.