Croydon (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Croydon’s Mayor, Jason Perry, vows action against unauthorised Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs) after a recent enforcement operation aimed at addressing illegal housing.
This action is in line with a number of boroughs outside of London that have indicated an urge to preserve the unique character of their communities.
HMOs offer a reasonably priced housing alternative, especially in cities with high housing demand like Croydon.
However, problems like overcrowding, subpar living conditions, and safety concerns occur when these facilities are not adequately managed.
What actions are being taken against unauthorized HMOs in Croydon?
The enforcement teams in Croydon are now working more to deal with unauthorized developments around the borough.
The HMO and Planning Enforcement teams recently conducted a joint operation where they targeted suspected illegal HMOs at 21 houses in Thornton Heath, Norbury, New Addington, Central Croydon, Addiscombe, and Purley.
Several violations of the Housing Act and planning laws were found during the operation, and council officers are currently working together to take the necessary measures.
Although Croydon’s Article 4 directive (implemented in 2020) limits HMOs to specific locations with stringent planning regulations, when correctly managed, they can offer valuable housing.
In an effort to keep its “quality family homes” from being taken away, neighboring Sutton further implemented an Article 4 directive at the end of last year.
At the time, Councillor Jake Short, Chair of Sutton’s Housing, Economy and Business Committee, said:
Any HMOs permitted by the council in future will be high-quality and will not negatively impact on the local area.
However, Croydon has suffered more than its neighbors with unlicensed HMOs due to its higher population and traffic jams.
The need for affordable housing and deficiencies in the enforcement and oversight of current laws are to blame for this increase.
Jason Perry, the Executive Mayor of Croydon, believes that planning enforcement is a primary concern.
According to the council’s own figures, the number of active enforcement cases has decreased by 66% since 2021, from over 2,000 to 711.
In a statement, Mayor Perry warned landlords against operating illegal HMOs, saying: “These developments can harm our neighbourhoods, and we won’t hesitate to take action.”
He added:
Protecting the unique character of our areas is my priority, and we’ll keep working hard to address any breaches. Thank you to our residents who have reported concerns – I assure you that we will continue to follow up on any reports received.