📢 Petition: License All HMOs Across Sunderland, Washington & Houghton
Petition By Elizabeth Brown
Across the City of Sunderland, including Washington, Houghton and Hetton,too many smaller Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) operate without any checks, inspections or oversight.
At present, only larger HMOs with five or more unrelated tenants need a licence. Smaller shared houses with three or four people do not. Yet these properties often present the very same risks around fire safety, poor maintenance, overcrowding and neighbourhood disruption.
This loophole leaves tenants and communities unprotected.
Legal basis:
Section 56 of the Housing Act 2004 allows councils to designate additional licensing schemes for HMOs not covered by mandatory licensing.
Precedent:
Many councils (e.g., Barnet, Westminster, Birmingham, Hounslow, Arun) have already introduced borough‑wide additional licensing schemes requiring smaller HMOs to be licensed.
Why do Sunderland Need This Change ?
🏠 Hidden HMOs Are Slipping Through the Net
Smaller HMOs don’t need a licence, meaning the council often has no idea who manages them or whether they are safe.
🔥 Safety Standards Go Unchecked
Without inspections, problems such as inadequate fire measures, damp, insecure doors, electrical concerns and overcrowding can go unnoticed.
🚮 Impact on Local Communities
Residents across Washington and Sunderland report issues linked to unregulated shared houses, including excess waste, parking problems, noise and ASB.
⚖️ A Fair Deal for Tenants
Everyone deserves a safe, well-managed home. Tenants in smaller HMOs deserve the same protections as those in larger ones.
🏘️ Protecting Family Housing & Neighbourhoods
Proper licensing helps prevent poor-quality conversions, protects streets from becoming over-saturated with HMOs, and supports safer, more stable local communities.
What We Are Calling For
We, the undersigned, call on Sunderland City Council to:
1. Introduce an Additional HMO Licensing Scheme
Covering smaller HMOs with three or four unrelated tenants across the whole Local Authority area — including Washington.
2. Inspect Every Licensed HMO
Ensuring clear standards for fire safety, maintenance, and responsible management.
3. Set Fair and Transparent Fees
With licence fees covering administration and enforcement, and discounts for responsible landlords who comply early and consistently.