While these stories dominated headlines, a similar, troubling issue is happening here in Haringey under Labour’s watch.
A Guardian investigation recently revealed that several councils are placing or referring residents into Houses in Multiple Occupation that do not have the required licence. Haringey was one of the councils named. Rather than treating unlicensed properties as a red line, the council has continued to use or refer residents who rely on the authority for support towards them. This means the council is acting both as regulator and customer of illegal accommodation.
But it gets worse. One of the unlicensed properties highlighted by the Guardian also did not have planning permission to even operate as an HMO, and Haringey was aware of this because planning enforcement action had already been taken against the landlord. Yet the council continued to use this and the landlord’s other properties for housing. This raises an obvious question: why was the council placing residents in homes it already knew were illegal?
Licensing exists to keep people safe. Haringey should never be directing residents to homes that it knows are illegal. Where Haringey Labour have failed on this scandal, the Liberal Democrat group is taking action. Before the Guardian story was published we had raised concerns with the chief executive; have since met with the corporate director for housing to demand immediate changes; and to support this, have submitted a motion to full council that calls for an urgent audit of every household placed or referred into an unlicensed HMO. It also proposes a halt on using any property without an existing licence, greater transparency through the regular publication of reporting proactive compliance checks by the council and more.
Whether it’s Haringey, Southwark, or the Chancellor, Labour has shown a failure of political leadership on property licensing. If Labour wants to rebuild trust in its housing promises nationally, it must start by getting the basics right locally. Haringey should set the standard, not add to the problem.
- Luke Cawley-Harrison is councillor for Crouch End ward, Haringey Council and leader of the Liberal Democrat Group.
