17
Jun
LANDLORD INFORMATION ON HMOs FROM HOUSING MINISTER
DEPARTMENT FOR COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Houses in Multiple Occupation
The Minister for Housing and Local Government (The Rt Hon Grant
Shapps): Today I am announcing the Government’s intention to
amend the planning rules for houses in multiple occupation (HMOs)
which were introduced on 6 April 2010.
I understand the concerns of local people who see their
neighbourhoods being damaged by undue concentrations of HMOs and
the significant impact this is having on their quality of life.
However there are also many areas where HMOs are not causing
problems and indeed provide an important supply of low cost
housing. I believe that the planning system needs to take account
of both these differing circumstances and allow for local solutions
rather than continue with the present ‘one size fits
all’ approach.
The current rules impose a blanket requirement for planning
permission in order to change use from a domestic house to a HMO.
When introduced, it was estimated that these rules could result in
an additional 8,500 planning applications per year and could lead
to a reduction in supply. This goes against the recommendations in
successive reports on the planning system that Government should
reduce the number of planning applications for minor development.
It also runs the risk of losing low cost housing in areas where it
is needed most.
I believe that we need to move away from this kind of centralised,
regulatory approach which has dominated planning in recent years
and create a system which encourages local people to take
responsibility for shaping their communities. Decisions should
reflect local priorities expressed through the local plan, rather
than nationally imposed rules.
I therefore intend to amend the HMO rules to allow changes of use
between family houses and small, shared houses to take place freely
without the need for planning applications. However, in those areas
experiencing problems with uncontrolled HMO development, local
authorities will be able to use their existing direction making
powers to restrict this freedom of movement by requiring planning
applications. This change will allow the free development of
smaller shared housing, which is a vital component of our private
rented sector, unless there is a serious threat to the area.
My officials will work through the detail of the proposed changes
with interested partners to ensure that the new rules work for
local people without placing an unnecessary burden on
businesses.
My aim is to have the revised arrangements in place by 1 October
2010.