HMO and Selective Licensing Schemes

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Welcome to the HMO and Selective Licensing Schemes engagement page

The London Borough of Harrow is running a 10-week consultation to gather views on licensing schemes for privately rented properties in the borough. The consultation will run from Friday 7 August to 11:59pm on Sunday 19 October 2025.


Overview

Over 30% of homes in London are privately rented. While many landlords provide safe, well-maintained homes, too many tenants still face unacceptable conditions — from serious hazards to poor property management.

The council currently operates a mandatory and additional Licensing Scheme covering Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) across the borough, as well as a Selective Licensing Scheme in Edgware (since 2015) and Wealdstone (since 2016), aimed at improving housing conditions, tackling anti-social behaviour, and protecting tenants and residents alike.

We are committed to our values of putting residents first, a borough that is clean and safe, and a place where those in need are supported. As such we are proposing updated and expanded licensing schemes when the current schemes expire in 2026.

Proposals

We are proposing the following improvements in relation to privately rented properties in Harrow:

  • Updating our current HMO Licences conditions, including around waste disposal and tenant management

  • An updated and expanded Selective License Scheme, covering non-HMO privately rented homes, and extended to the following six wards:

    • Edgware

    • Greenhill

    • Marlborough

    • Wealdstone North

    • Wealdstone South

    • Roxeth

These schemes are proposed to run for 5 years, and are designed to ensure:

  • tenants live in safe, well-managed homes

  • neighbourhoods remain clean and safe

  • landlords are held accountable for the condition and impact of their properties

If the proposals are approved, all new and renewal licence applications made after the approval date will be subject to the updated HMO and Selective Licensing conditions.

We are also consulting on adopting the proposed new HMO waste conditions as a "Waste Scheme" which would mean these existing HMO licences would be subject to the updated conditions,

Get Involved

We want to hear from everyone with an interest in the private rented sector in Harrow — including residents, tenants, landlords, managing or letting agents, local organisations, and businesses.

  • The online survey takes around 10 minutes to complete.

  • Please read the consultation supporting documents (available on the right-hand side of this page) before you begin. The proposed new conditions can be found in Appendix 2 (HMO) and Appendix 4 (Selective).

To make sure everyone can take part we’ll be holding in-person consultation events at Harrow Libraries and the Conversation Café.

We’re also hosting:

  • a Landlords’ Forum on 17 September 2025

  • a Tenants’ Forum (date to be confirmed)

We will directly contact current licence holders, managing agents, and HMO households.

Check back here for the Key Dates panel to see when and where you can speak to us in person.

Please note that the survey is the quickest and easiest way to give us your views. If a hard copy form of the survey is required please email private.sector.housing@harrow.gov.uk

What happens next?

All feedback received will be reviewed and considered. If necessary, changes will be made to the proposals before they are finalised.

The final proposals will be presented to Cabinet for a decision later this year.

Please make sure your response is submitted by 23:59 on Sunday 19 October 2025.


Welcome to the HMO and Selective Licensing Schemes engagement page

The London Borough of Harrow is running a 10-week consultation to gather views on licensing schemes for privately rented properties in the borough. The consultation will run from Friday 7 August to 11:59pm on Sunday 19 October 2025.


Overview

Over 30% of homes in London are privately rented. While many landlords provide safe, well-maintained homes, too many tenants still face unacceptable conditions — from serious hazards to poor property management.

The council currently operates a mandatory and additional Licensing Scheme covering Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) across the borough, as well as a Selective Licensing Scheme in Edgware (since 2015) and Wealdstone (since 2016), aimed at improving housing conditions, tackling anti-social behaviour, and protecting tenants and residents alike.

We are committed to our values of putting residents first, a borough that is clean and safe, and a place where those in need are supported. As such we are proposing updated and expanded licensing schemes when the current schemes expire in 2026.

Proposals

We are proposing the following improvements in relation to privately rented properties in Harrow:

  • Updating our current HMO Licences conditions, including around waste disposal and tenant management

  • An updated and expanded Selective License Scheme, covering non-HMO privately rented homes, and extended to the following six wards:

    • Edgware

    • Greenhill

    • Marlborough

    • Wealdstone North

    • Wealdstone South

    • Roxeth

These schemes are proposed to run for 5 years, and are designed to ensure:

  • tenants live in safe, well-managed homes

  • neighbourhoods remain clean and safe

  • landlords are held accountable for the condition and impact of their properties

If the proposals are approved, all new and renewal licence applications made after the approval date will be subject to the updated HMO and Selective Licensing conditions.

We are also consulting on adopting the proposed new HMO waste conditions as a "Waste Scheme" which would mean these existing HMO licences would be subject to the updated conditions,

Get Involved

We want to hear from everyone with an interest in the private rented sector in Harrow — including residents, tenants, landlords, managing or letting agents, local organisations, and businesses.

  • The online survey takes around 10 minutes to complete.

  • Please read the consultation supporting documents (available on the right-hand side of this page) before you begin. The proposed new conditions can be found in Appendix 2 (HMO) and Appendix 4 (Selective).

To make sure everyone can take part we’ll be holding in-person consultation events at Harrow Libraries and the Conversation Café.

We’re also hosting:

  • a Landlords’ Forum on 17 September 2025

  • a Tenants’ Forum (date to be confirmed)

We will directly contact current licence holders, managing agents, and HMO households.

Check back here for the Key Dates panel to see when and where you can speak to us in person.

Please note that the survey is the quickest and easiest way to give us your views. If a hard copy form of the survey is required please email private.sector.housing@harrow.gov.uk

What happens next?

All feedback received will be reviewed and considered. If necessary, changes will be made to the proposals before they are finalised.

The final proposals will be presented to Cabinet for a decision later this year.

Please make sure your response is submitted by 23:59 on Sunday 19 October 2025.


Page last updated: 18 Aug 2025, 01:43 PM