Nov

Leicester to widen HMO planning restrictions covering ‘thousands’ of houses

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Leicester city council councillors are to vote next week on plans to significantly widen local planning laws to clamp down on the spread of HMOs.

The measures are to be brought in following a public consultation that finished in January this year.

Leicester has had an Article 4 Direction in place for nearly ten years in several areas of the city, but following the eight-week consultation this is to be expanded to cover ‘thousands’ more houses.

The existing Article 4 Direction covers parts of the West End, streets near to De Montfort University’s campus and Leicester Royal Infirmary, numerous streets in the area between New Walk and HMP Leicester, as well as most of Clarendon Park and a section south of Lancaster Road.

The West End zone will now be extended to stretch from Rowley Fields, to Westcotes, Newfoundpool and parts of the Waterside area, while the Clarendon Park area would be extended to incorporate much of Knighton Fields, Knighton, Stoneygate and part of Aylestone.

A third new area will include much of Spinney Hills and Highfields.

HMO spread

Part of the justification of the Article 4 Direction is that although only just under seven percent of its housing stock is HMO properties, in some parts of the areas covered by the Article 4 Direction, HMOs account for between 25 and 38 percent of its stock.

The plans, along with an enlarged selective licensing scheme due to be introduced in the city, has drawn criticism from local property figures.

As LandlordZONE has reported previously, Irving Hill of local student lets firm Stulets, said: “If the council stops more houses being converted into HMOs by using the Article 4 directive it will have a direct impact on students, restricting choice and driving up the price so that poorer ones are priced out and won’t have anywhere to live.”

Read the consultation detail.

View Full Article: Leicester to widen HMO planning restrictions covering ‘thousands’ of houses