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Peter Black and South Wales West Liberal DemocratsRepresenting Aberavon, Bridgend, Gower, Neath, Ogmore, Port Talbot, and Swansea |
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Welsh Minister should follow English example on Houses in Multiple Occupation
January 28, 2010 12:00 AM
The Welsh Liberal Democrat Housing Spokesperson, Peter Black, has called on the Welsh Government to follow the announcement by the Westminster Minister for Planning and Housing and force new Houses in Multiple Occupation to apply for planning permission.
A House of Multiple Occupancy is one that is home to several tenants who rent separately from each other, often on a short term basis. These are typically used by students and young professionals and are cheaper to rent than an entire house. However, in some communities the majority of houses are now HMOs and this has had a drastic impact on the community, as well as causing additional problems with parking and rubbish.
The announcement means that local authorities in England will have the power to force a landlord who wishes to turn a property into a HMO to apply for a change of use order. It will make it easier for councils to control the number of HMOs in a particular area.
Peter Black said:
"This is something that I have been asking the Minister to do for some time. HMOs are an important part of our housing sector and give access to housing for many who would otherwise not be able to afford it. However, having too many within an individual area can have a detrimental effect on a community."
"I am not arguing for more or less HMOs, but for better planning to spread them out so that there is less of a change to the communities that they are contained within. Having too many multi-occupied dwellings in an area can cause parking chaos and other social problems whilst short term residents have little interest in participating in the community."
"I have written to the Minister asking her to follow the English example on this so that councils in Wales finally have the power in Wales to plan communities effectively for the benefit of all the residents that live within the area."
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