Harrow Council is proposing to extend its selective licensing scheme to several new areas and update the conditions for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) to improve housing standards and reduce anti-social behaviour.
The Harrow Council Cabinet approved the commencement of a consultation on the proposals at a meeting on 24 July 2025. The consultation will seek feedback on proposed changes to HMO and selective licensing conditions, as well as the proposed expansion of selective licensing to additional wards.
Currently, Harrow has selective licensing schemes in Edgware and Wealdstone. Following a review outlined in the Cabinet Report HMO Selective Licensing, the council is proposing to extend the scheme to include Greenhill, Marlborough, North Wealdstone, South Wealdstone, and Roxeth wards. The review, detailed in Selective Licence Review, suggests that Greenhill, Marlborough, and Roxeth would particularly benefit from the scheme's inclusion, based on an analysis of deprivation levels, anti-social behaviour incidents, crime statistics, and housing condition data.
The proposed changes to HMO license conditions, detailed in Current HMO Conditions and Proposed HMO Conditions 2025, include requirements for landlords to:
- Keep tenant records, including names and dates of birth.
- Report suspected subletting.
- Provide a written complaints procedure to tenants.
- Respond to the council or police within five working days regarding nuisance or anti-social behaviour.
- Complete urgent electrical repairs within 28 days.
- Submit gas and electrical meter inspection reports.
The proposed changes for selective license conditions, outlined in Proposed SL Conditions 2025, include additional anti-social behaviour and nuisance conditions, as well as new property management requirements.
According to the meeting minutes, Councillor Pritesh Patel, Portfolio Holder for Cleaner Streets & Public Safety, stated that the updated policy aims to strengthen the council's approach, ensure continued legal compliance, and enhance the overall offer to residents. The updated policy is designed to be clear and straightforward, providing a legal framework and guiding principles for the use of CCTV and other video surveillance technologies.
To ensure landlords are aware of and understand the new requirements, the council will conduct a 10-week public consultation from 1 August to 10 October 2025. This process will involve online platforms, in-person events at Harrow libraries, and conversation cafes and forums for landlords, tenants, agents, and local businesses. Engagement will be supported by the council's communications team, with fortnightly project meetings to ensure momentum and oversight. A proposed timeline for the scheme's progression is detailed in Cabinet Report HMO Selective Licensing.
The public consultation is scheduled to run for 10 weeks, from 1 August to 10 October 2025. The council will use online platforms and in-person events to gather feedback from residents, landlords, tenants, agents, and local businesses. The findings of the consultation will be presented to the cabinet for consideration before any final decisions are made.
Licensing fees are currently £752 for five years under the selective licensing scheme, or roughly £150 per year. These fees are reviewed annually for cost recovery, and any expansion will likely require additional staffing, which will be funded through these fees without burdening council taxpayers.
