Enforcement Raids Expose Unsafe, Overcrowded Rental Homes in East London

On a recent morning in October 2025, enforcement officers from the London borough of Waltham Forest conducted surprise inspections of suspected unlicensed rental properties in the Leytonstone and Walthamstow neighborhoods. The raids uncovered a disturbing pattern of landlords exploiting vulnerable tenants by cramming as many people as possible into homes not designed for such high occupancy.

In Leytonstone, the officers found a three-bedroom terraced house being used as an unlicensed home in multiple occupation (HMO), with seven or more unrelated tenants living there. One resident, an eastern European man, paid £600 per month for a small, windowless bedroom on the ground floor, sharing the home's two bathrooms and kitchen with the other tenants. The property lacked working smoke alarms and had other safety issues.

The situation was even more dire in Walthamstow, where the team discovered at least 13 tenants, including refugees from Afghanistan, living in a property that should have housed far fewer people. The single bathroom was in disrepair, the kitchen was filthy, and the home had numerous fire and electrical hazards. Many of the residents worked long hours as waiters, delivery drivers, and laborers to afford the £250 monthly rent they paid to share cramped rooms.

These raids are part of an ongoing crackdown by Waltham Forest authorities on unlicensed, substandard rental properties. Over the past decade, the local council has secured hundreds of criminal prosecutions and financial penalties against landlords who flout housing regulations. However, the problem persists as desperate tenants have few affordable options, and some landlords continue to prioritize profits over tenant safety and wellbeing.