The CIEH is seeking the views of members’ in its response to the Communities and Local Government’s consultation on HMOs and planning.
Members’ are being asked to email CIEH Principal Policy Officer Andrew Griffiths so that the CIEH can tailor its response to the issue of ‘studentification’ and its impact on communities.
In some areas high numbers of students have a marked impact on the local area, providing economic benefits but also having negative effects such as anti-social behaviour, litter, parking problems, reduced opportunity for low-cost home ownership and the closure of under used community facilities or pressure on over used community facilities.
CIEH Principal Policy Andrew Griffiths said:
“We are keen to see housing and planning law harmonised in a number of areas.
“We believe that aligning HMO definitions will go some way towards resolving issues between EHPs and planners in dealing with HMOs but we want to hear what our members think about the proposed options.”
The purpose of the consultation document Houses in multiple occupation and possible planning responses is to consider whether changes should be made to planning legislation affecting HMOs.
The consultation considers three options. The first is a non-legislative approach that focuses on promoting good practice and allows areas to find a local solution.
The second is to introduce changes to the Use Classes Order, which would tighten planning control over HMOs and bring the threshold used in planning and housing legislation into line.
The final option is the use of Article 4 direction to remove the powers for properties to convert to HMOs where the local concentration is giving rise to problems.
To read the consultation document in full please visit their web site.
Comments on the CLG consultation should be emailed to Andrew Griffiths [a.griffiths@cieh.org] by 22 July.