A new Hackney Council report has revealed that shared rented homes in the borough pose nearly double the health and safety risks compared to the rest of England — with fire safety accounting for the majority of serious hazards.

Serious Hazards in One in Four HMOs

The study found that 23% of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in Hackney — properties rented to at least three separate households — contain “serious hazards”. This compares with a national average of 10%.

Under the Housing Act 2004, such hazards are classified as:

• Category 1: “Serious and immediate threats to health and safety”
• Category 2: Less serious but still requiring action

In non-HMO private rented properties, the figure remains high at 15% borough-wide.

Fire Safety Leads the List of Concerns

The report reveals that 63% of these dangers in rented homes are related to fire safety, placing significant focus on the urgent need for improved fire protection measures within the borough.

Some of the worst-affected areas include:

• Cazenove ward, with 615 rented properties flagged for serious risk
• Stoke Newington, where nearly a third (595) of private rentals — including HMOs — contain serious hazards
• Hoxton West, showing the lowest figure at 98

Licensing Scheme to Tackle Unsafe Rentals

In light of these findings, Hackney Council will discuss plans to introduce a borough-wide landlord licensing scheme at tonight’s cabinet meeting. The proposals include:

• A £925 fee for standard licences
• A £1,400 fee for an “additional” licence covering certain HMOs

The council has previously trialled a limited version of the scheme between 2018 and 2023, and now aims to roll out a more comprehensive approach across the borough.

The move follows a commitment made in 2022 by then-Mayor Philip Glanville and Cllr Sem Moema, who pledged to implement the policy within two years.

The council’s ‘Better Deal for Renters’ campaign last March also included a pledge to support licensing in “as many wards as possible”.

Regulatory Powers and Landlord Incentives

As of December, the government has relaxed the rules, allowing councils to introduce licensing schemes without needing prior approval — effectively clearing the way for borough-wide implementation.

However, the council notes that the scheme remains “subject to consultation feedback”, and may include discounts for landlords certified by the London Landlord Accreditation Scheme or who meet energy-efficiency standards.

In a joint report ahead of the meeting, Mayor Caroline Woodley and Cllr Moema stated:

“By enabling the council to target specific problem areas, licensing can help to enforce the principles of the Renter’s Rights Bill, ensuring landlords meet their responsibilities and tenants live in safe, well-maintained homes.”

Political Pressure to Act Fast

Hackney’s Green opposition group has pressed the council to speed up the rollout, urging that the scheme be introduced no later than October this year.

With Hackney’s private rented sector having grown 28% since 2011 — against a near doubling across England — the pressure to act on housing quality and fire safety is only increasing.

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