Friday 10 December 2010

FIRST STEP TAKEN IN TACKLING HMO ISSUE

The first step has been taken to ensure that anyone in Thanet who converts properties into houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) will have to seek planning permission first.

Cabinet Members heard today (Friday 10 December) that the government had introduced new legislation in October 2010, meaning that homes can be turned into HMOs for up to six unrelated people without seeking planning permission.

There have been concerns about the number of HMOs in Thanet, and particularly in the Cliftonville West area, for some time. They are often in a poor condition and therefore cheap to rent, which attracts vulnerable people from outside of the area into Thanet, putting a drain on public resources to support them.

The council can use a planning power, called an Article 4 Direction, to require anyone who wants to convert their home into an HMO to submit a planning application.

Advice from the government says that if councils introduce an Article 4 Direction with less than 12 months’ notice, they will liable to pay compensation to anyone who applies and is refused permission or has planning permission granted, but has conditions put on this. This is the approach being suggested at Thanet, after research by Leeds City Council suggested it could end up facing compensation claims of between £1.5 million and £3 million for the 12 month period.

Cllr. Simon Moores, Cabinet Member for Customer Services, said: “The amount of houses in multiple occupation has been a concern in Thanet for many years. Sadly, all too often, many of them are in poor condition, with those living in them suffering as a result. With cheap rents charged on such properties, we’re used to seeing vulnerable people coming into Thanet, adding to the drain on our resources, which are already under pressure in the current economic climate. Our private sector housing team spends much of their time tackling problems at HMOs, particularly in Cliftonville West. The last thing we need is even more opening up, which is why it’s important we use any tools we can in the planning process to help stem the spread of HMOs.”

The Cabinet agreed that the report should go forward to the next meeting of full Council on Thursday 16 December, with a recommendation that the meeting should agree to imposing new planning rules in 12 months’ time.

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