Political Opinion: Stop placing illegal migrants in HMOs
Across cities and towns like Ashfield, much loved neighbourhoods are being turned into dirty and dangerous streets.
Pubs, care homes and family homes are being converted into houses in multiple occupation and filled with nuisance tenants.
Six or more unrelated people are living under a single roof.
This does not just result in overcrowding; issues spill out onto the streets and create chaos.
Anti-social behaviour, neglect of shared spaces, bins overflowing and late-night noise become commonplace, and residents who have lived in these areas for decades are forced to move away.
Those who cannot afford it have no choice but to stay and endure the disruption.
That is why I decided to hold my own debate on HMOs – the problem is only getting worse, and it is residents who are expected to put up with it.
HMOs are not the issue.
Local housing supply is needed and HMOs play an important role in filling that gap.
When properly managed, HMOs provide stability and affordable housing for single professionals and key workers.
I’ve met an agency in Ashfield who are taking their role in this seriously.
However, too often there is next to no oversight or accountability for investors and landlords.
Why? Profit is placed over local people and there is a complete absence of appropriate planning and licensing in the process.
As new agents undercut at half the going rate, corners get cut on tenant selection.
This is further compounded by successive Government’s handling of illegal migration.
Private contractors have been heavily relied upon to house illegal migrants, first in hotels and now in residential areas.
Serco have been allowed to hoover up HMOs on seven-year deals, which means it is even more difficult for British people to find affordable accommodation.
Prices are going up, availability is going down.
To make matters even worse, unvetted young men of fighting-age are being placed into our communities, still at the taxpayer’s expense.
In 2026, young girls are having to change their route to school to stay safe.
Let that sink in.
We need a statutory, national framework for the regulation of HMOs.
Landlords and managers must meet clear standards through training, accreditation and consequences for failures to comply.
If you profit from housing tenants in HMOs, you should be accountable for how the property is run and the impact it has on its neighbours.
Local authorities need the power to enforce caps on HMOs and we need vigorous background checks on all tenants.
We need a separate licensing agreement for agents housing higher-risk people and HMO managers need proper safeguarding tools.
These should be basic requirements and the fact they aren’t in place already shows failures in the system.
My final ask is simple: stop placing illegal migrants in HMOs.
Do not embed these people even deeper into our communities – detain and deport.
We have a responsibility as legislators to ensure our housing system does not compromise the safety and security of local people.
This needs to be taken seriously.