Brent Council receives five new HMO applications

Brent Council is currently considering five new applications for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). Among these is a proposal to convert a property in Wembley into a nine-bedroom dwelling intended to accommodate up to 16 residents. Another application seeks to transform a Cricklewood property into a four-bedroom HMO for four people.

The influx of HMO applications comes as many London councils are reviewing their regulations for such properties. Concerns are often raised by residents regarding the potential loss of family-sized homes, increased antisocial behaviour, and the impact on community balance. In response to these issues, Brent Council has introduced a new licensing scheme specifically for smaller HMOs, which house fewer than five tenants. This scheme complements the existing requirement for all larger HMO landlords to be licensed, a measure implemented due to evidence of substandard and potentially unsafe conditions in a significant number of these properties, as reported by the local authority.

Details of the new applications

In Cricklewood, a proposal at 13 Walton Close outlines the conversion of a residential property into a four-bedroom, four-person HMO. The plans include internal alterations to add en-suite bathrooms to each room. The applicant estimates the renovation cost to be up to £2 million. The proposed design provides approximately 28.1 square metres of internal communal space, exceeding the minimum requirement for four residents.

Two applications have been submitted for properties in Wembley. One at 27 Uxendon Crescent details plans to convert a three-storey house into a nine-bedroom, 16-person HMO, with rooms spread across three floors and a rear garden. Most bedrooms would exceed the minimum space requirement, and the plans appear to meet the 20 square metre communal space requirement for an HMO of this size.

Another Wembley application, at 55 Chalkhill Road, proposes converting a three-storey terraced property into a six-bedroom, six-person HMO, including a single-storey rear extension. This property currently operates as a five-bedroom HMO. The revised plans include a 44 square metre communal kitchen, living, and dining area, with all tenants having access to a garden. The applicant stated the proposal would provide good quality shared accommodation in a sustainable location without harming the area's character or neighbours' living conditions.

A fourth application in Wembley, at 342 Preston Road, aims to convert a semi-detached property into a six-bedroom, nine-person HMO. The bedrooms would be distributed across three storeys, with communal facilities including a kitchen, dining room, and an outdoor patio on the ground floor. The available communal space appears to exceed the minimum requirement for the proposed number of tenants.

In Edgware, plans for 193 Beverley Drive involve converting a three-storey semi-detached house into a seven-bedroom, ten-person HMO. This application includes demolishing an existing side garage and constructing a two-storey side extension, along with other extensions. A previous HMO application for this site was refused due to insufficient communal space, but the applicant states that revised plans now address these deficiencies and satisfy all criteria.