Shapps gives councils greater freedom to tackle houses in multiple occupation

The Housing Minister has announced plans to alter the legislation on houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) so that councils can individually choose whether to require landlords to submit a planning application to rent their properties to unrelated tenants.

The previous government introduced legislation in April 2010 requiring landlords to obtain planning permission if they were to establish a new HMO with a change of use.

Concentrations of HMOs have been associated with crime and anti-social behaviour. However, Grant Shapps said the problems are not widespread and that the rules imposed an unnecessary burden on landlords and councils.

The minister said: "I'm not going to create unnecessary costs for landlords that could damage the rental sector and limit the number of properties available for rent, particularly when so many young people working in our towns and cities rely on sharing with friends for an affordable home.

"That's why I want to give councils the flexibility they need so they can use planning rules to control the spread of shared housing in neighbourhoods where they cause problems, without tying local landlords in red tape where shared housing causes few, if any, problems at all."

The concession was welcomed by the British Property Federation. Its chief executive, Liz Peace, said:  “Grant Shapps has taken quick and decisive action after this law was rushed through in April without sufficient clarification. At a time when council resource is scarce and housing is needed it makes no sense to be forcing thousands of local landlords and planning officers to be engaged in unnecessary bureaucracy.”