Just before dawn on a street in Leytonstone, located in east London, a group of enforcement officers from Waltham Forest is at the door of a house that is suspected to function as an unlicensed house in multiple occupation (HMO).

I have been granted permission to accompany and film the team during their operation.

A tenant from Eastern Europe, wearing a dressing gown, opened the door for us. Upon seeing the warrant, he stepped aside to let us in.

He attempted to contact the landlord, whose son resides here, to inform him about our presence.

Although he preferred to remain anonymous, he revealed that he pays approximately £600 monthly for a small bedroom on the ground floor that has no window.

Employed as a concierge in a luxury apartment complex, he works lengthy shifts and is one of at least seven unrelated individuals residing in what is meant to be a three-bedroom terraced house. He has lived in these conditions for six months without needing to provide a deposit.

All tenants work shifts across London and share a kitchen and two bathrooms.

No living or dining area exists, but there is a sizable shared kitchen. The smoke alarms were nonfunctional, and the landing lights on the first floor were out as well.

On the first floor, we were greeted by another tenant who opened his bedroom door, revealing a litter tray for his cat just outside. He too was of Eastern European descent and indicated that he had lived there since 2017.

He mentioned that the cat helps control the mouse population. With his earnings, he cannot afford alternative housing.

Recently, this property failed to acquire an HMO license from Waltham Forest, having been visited six times without prior notice by the housing enforcement team during the summer. The landlord now asserts that he resides here with two lodgers.

There’s a public registry of licensed HMOs in the borough, and this property is notably absent from it. The exact number of unlicensed HMOs in Waltham Forest remains uncertain, but enforcement officers frequently conduct inspections based on gathered intelligence.

In the last decade, the local authority has achieved 325 criminal prosecutions or imposed financial penalties of up to £30,000 for violations concerning substandard housing.

Nevertheless, some landlords continue to cram as many tenants as possible into properties not designed for such arrangements.

At the front of the house, there was a locked room that the first tenant claimed was occupied by the landlord’s son.

Eventually, the locksmith brought along by the enforcement team opened the door for the officers to enter.

Inside, they discovered a double bed, a dresser, and a desk. Charging from a socket near the door were what appeared to be batteries for a car or an e-scooter.

The team noted that the wires were improperly connected to the wall sockets without plugs, raising concerns about a potential fire hazard.

They left a copy of the warrant on the bed before the locksmith secured the room again.

The first tenant expressed his intention to move out, hoping his new accommodation would be an improvement. “At least it will have a window,” he remarked.

Next, we traveled to a second location in Walthamstow, situated on a residential street of terraced houses near the main thoroughfare.

The council enforcement team suspected that this address might house around eight tenants, but they soon discovered the reality was much different.

An Afghan man answered the door hesitantly, but after seeing the warrant, he permitted us entry.

He explained that he had refugee status and had applied for housing but had not been assigned anywhere. He pays £250 monthly to share a room with another Afghan refugee who also contributes £250.

Although he agreed to an on-camera interview, he requested that his face not be shown.

He recounted working long hours in a laundry, now at home recovering from an accident that left him with cuts and bruises. He proudly shared a photo of himself recuperating in a London hospital.

He and his roommate recounted nights spent sleeping rough in parks, on trains, and in mosques, stating that this room was a significant improvement.

At least 13 individuals appeared to live in the house, hailing from various countries.

In the kitchen, three men from Pakistan greeted us.

The enforcement team was particularly concerned about their living conditions rather than their immigration status.

This property also lacked an HMO license. The enforcement team had made several unannounced visits during the summer, and had issued a s.239 notification under the Housing Act 2004, but had yet to gain access.

Everyone residing there seemed to be gainfully employed, working as waiters, delivery drivers, and laborers who form the backbone of London’s economy.

Only one operational bathroom existed on the ground floor for all thirteen residents, featuring a shower that was improperly installed and leaked, leading to dampness and mold.

Another bathroom was located on the first floor, offering a functioning toilet but a decrepit shower that had clearly seen recent use—evidenced by a mop and sponge left beside it.

A packet of cigarettes was carelessly discarded on the windowsill.

Downstairs, the kitchen was in a state of disarray—filthy, damp, and reeking of mold, with cockroach droppings found in the cupboard beneath the sink. An exposed wire netting held up a section of the ceiling plaster that had come loose, directly below the upstairs shower room.

Additionally, bedbugs were reported in the property.

Loose plug sockets and exposed wires posed further hazards.

There was no shared living space apart from the kitchen.

Neither smoke alarms were functional, nor were the bannisters and stairs in a safe condition. Moreover, an additional floor existed without proper planning permission.

Sandra McGrath remarked, “The tenants are truly struggling against the odds.

“These are all communal facilities, and we expect the landlord to maintain them adequately.

“Residents desire a comfortable living environment, but with so many individuals under one roof, the fire risk significantly increases.

“In a three-story building, those sleeping on the second floor face real danger if they need to evacuate quickly.”

The locksmith unlocked the door to a single bedroom. The bed was in a deplorable state with no linens, although it was evident someone had been sleeping on the stained mattress.

A horrific odor permeated the room, indicating that the occupant likely slept, ate, and perhaps even cooked there.

A window could be fully opened at floor level, raising serious safety concerns.

Enforcement officer Ms. McGrath labeled it “extremely hazardous.”

“Imagine if a child entered this room. The risk they would face is unimaginable.”

However, a smart wool suit was carefully stored in a clear plastic bag on a wall nail, beside an umbrella. This indicated that the occupant was employed and dressed well for work.

Looking out from the first-floor window across the gardens, another property that seemed to function as an HMO was visible—a potential lead for future investigations.

But for now, they had enough paperwork to handle.

“We’ve identified an unlicensed HMO with at least ten residents, possibly more,” enforcement officer Lisa Smith noted.

“We will continue our investigation and pursue enforcement actions.”

After they departed, I headed to one final location. A resident had informed me that the landlord lived nearby.

I knocked on the door.

There was no response.