Following the consultation last year on HMOs I submitted  my views that tougher planning legislation is required. It is good news then that the government’s announcement of new powers for Councils to control ‘Houses in Multiple Occupation’ (HMOs) has been made. Councillors (lead by SHaun McGall) and Don Foster MP have been campaigning on this issue for 10 years.
Today’s announcement shows that the government has finally bowed to national public pressure and has given local Councils the much-needed powers to control the spread of high concentrations of shared rented homes. This will allow Councils to tackle pockets of unsafe and substandard accommodation run by bad landlords. Liberal Democrat Councillors in the city and MP Don Foster had been calling on the Government to speed up action on the subject.

Don Foster has warmly welcomed this announcement from the Minister. HMOs play an important role in providing affordable housing, but a dense population can have serious effects on the local community. It is great that the government has finally realised this and changed the law.
Councillor Shaun McGall (Oldfield) said: “This is good for local residents giving control over unregulated profit driven changes to the community. Good for HMO tenants, as it will improve standards and get rid of bad landlords, by providing a mechanism for councils to set up local landlord licensing schemes. The changes mean that landlords will need to apply for planning permission in order to establish a new HMO with a change of use, for example when the use of a property is altered from a family home to a shared house, with three or more tenants who are not related.”

It wasn’t just Councillors who responded to the consultation as many submission were sent in from across Bath. This is a victory for communities including families, students, and other adults living in shared, rented housing.