Spelthorne Borough Council is facing an “overwhelming” rise in HMOs in parts of Surrey, with senior officers warning the licensing system is now “under strain”.

HMO licence applications have more than tripled in just two years, rising from 33 in 2022 to 115 this year, while complaints about suspected illegal HMOs have also quadrupled, according to a council report.

Conservative councillor Med Buck (pictured) told a Community Wellbeing and Housing committee meeting this week: “To me, this is not a minor backlog. It is a system under strain.”

The council is struggling to keep pace with the growth and impact of HMOs.”

He added: “The council is struggling to keep pace with the growth and impact of HMOs.”

Buck said residents feel ignored, warning that issues such as “parking chaos”, overcrowded streets and the “sheer density” of HMOs cannot legally be considered when licences are issued. “People want action, not explanations,” he said, describing the council’s approach as “firefighting, not a strategy”.

Labour councillor Rebecca Geach also criticised what she called “almost unreasonable requests” for residents to prove anti-social behaviour, including being asked to use apps to record noise and keep detailed logs.

Hands tied

Officers told Get Surrey their “hands are tied by law”, with noise cases requiring weeks or months of evidence to prove a “statutory nuisance”, while the department is also severely understaffed after multiple failed recruitment drives.

To cope with demand, the council has hired two contractors to clear the backlog, while bids have been submitted for up to £300,000 extra funding for 2026/27, including £100,000 for HMO enforcement and £60,000 for planning enforcement.

Spelthorne is also rolling out Article 4 Directions, extending borough-wide from March 2026, requiring planning permission before homes can be converted into HMOs.