THE illegal use of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) is an issue in Basildon Borough, and the council is reinforcing its commitment to tackling it.
In a decisive move to restore order and protect local communities, Basildon Council has launched a dedicated HMO Taskforce to root out and crack down on unauthorised HMOs across the borough.
Every report from residents will be investigated. Every property will be visited. Every violation will be dealt with.
The Taskforce will respond to all reports and conduct swift inspections, working in partnership with Essex Police and other partner agencies to carry out out-of-hours raids on suspected illegal HMOs.
Councillor Adele Brown, Cabinet Member for Housing and Infrastructure who champions the new Taskforce, said:
“We’ve heard your concerns loud and clear. Basildon has had enough. People in Basildon are fed up with HMOs causing parking problems, noise, extra pressure on local services and the loss of proper family homes. This new Taskforce is about putting that right, putting our communities first, and taking back control.”
Councillor Kerry Smith, Cabinet Member for Law, Order and Enforcement said:
“This council is on your side. We will not stand by while hard-nosed landlords exploit our housing stock and undermine the quality of life for our residents. Our message is clear: if you’re operating an illegal HMO, expect a knock on the door – day or night.”
Basildon Council is calling on residents to be vigilant and proactive. If you suspect a property is being used as an illegal HMO, report it immediately via the council’s website – Report a concern with a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) – Basildon
