COUNCILLORS URGED TO BACK CONTROLS ON STUDENT HOUSING (York Liberal Democrats)

York Liberal Democrats <info@yorklibdems.org.uk>

COUNCILLORS URGED TO BACK CONTROLS ON STUDENT HOUSING

September 4, 2010 10:00 AM

Councillor Keith Aspden

Members of the Council's Local Development Framework Working Group are being urged to support proposals to introduce local controls on turning homes into Houses of Multiple Occupancy.

Planning permission is currently needed before a home can be turned into a HMO under rules introduced by the previous Government, but the new coalition government has recently stated it plans to scrap the national requirement later this year, in favour of allowing local councils deciding for themselves if they wish to introduce planning controls on HMOs.

A report on the possibility of introducing a local requirement to seek planning permission before a house can be converted to a HMO will be presented to the Council's Local Development Framework Working Group on 6th September.

Fulford's Liberal Democrat Councillor, Keith Aspden has written to members of the working group urging them to support the introduction of a local requirement for planning permission if the national regulations are removed.

Councillor Aspden said, "Whilst there is no denying the massively positive impact students and the University have on the city, there is a need to ensure that the housing provided is suitable and is in areas that can deal with the challenges that come with this type of housing."

"By requiring HMOs to have planning permission we can look at potential problems and ensure that concerns are addressed before anything is done."

Councillor Aspden said he didn't want to see the powers used to reduce the availability of HMOs, but instead saw it as an opportunity to improve the quality of housing.

He said, "I don't see requiring planning as a way to limit the number of HMOs, it is more about ensuring that any house that is converted to a HMO is suitable and meets the needs of the potential tenants, as well taking into account the local situation."

"I think it makes sense to take up the powers available to manage HMOs locally once the national requirement is removed. We need to be able to look at where HMOs are located and work to ensure that areas don't become dominated by them and that they are located in areas most able to deal with the impact."