Croydon vows to get tough on houses of illegal multiple occupancy

By Harrison Galliven, Local Democracy Service

Croydon’s mayor has insisted action will be taken against unauthorised houses of multiple occupation (HMO) after the council conducted a recent enforcement operation across the borough.

HMOs provide a relatively affordable housing option, particularly in urban areas like Croydon, where demand for housing is high. However, issues arise when these properties are not properly regulated, including overcrowding, poor living conditions and safety concerns.

In response, Croydon’s enforcement teams is now increasing efforts to address unauthorised developments across the borough. In a recent joint operation, the Planning Enforcement and HMO teams visited 21 properties in Thornton Heath, Norbury, New Addington, Central Croydon, Addiscombe and Purley, focusing on suspected illegal HMOs.

During the operation, several breaches of planning regulations and the Housing Act were identified, and council officers are now coordinating to take appropriate action.

HMOs, when properly managed, can provide valuable housing, but Croydon’s Article 4 direction (introduced in 2020) restricts their location to certain areas with strict planning controls.

However, Croydon’s large population and density mean it has struggled more significantly than its neighbours with unchecked HMOs. This rise can be attributed to the demand for affordable housing and gaps in the enforcement and monitoring of existing regulations.

Despite this, Croydon’s executive mayor, Jason Perry, insists planning enforcement remains a top priority. The council’s own data shows that since 2021, it has reduced the number of active enforcement cases from over 2,000 to 711, indicating a 66 per cent decrease.

A total of 2,485 investigations have been concluded, with resolutions ranging from negotiations to formal enforcement notices or court action.

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.

“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.”

Pictured top: Mayor Jason Perry (Picture: LDRS/Harrison Galliven)