[Link to consultation at the bottom of this page.]
Julia Lopez MP is encouraging residents to take part in a Havering Council consultation on plans to introduce borough-wide planning controls for new Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). A rise in unregistered HMOs, where family-sized homes are subdivided into smaller units, is seeing a change in the character of too many streets across the constituency and it is important that residents have a chance to have their say about introducing greater controls.
The Hornchurch & Upminster MP has seen an increase in constituents raising this issue via casework, with formerly quiet streets affected by anti-social behaviour and a larger number of people coming and going into a property. With the Home Office increasingly using HMOs to house migrants awaiting asylum decisions in other parts of the country, there is also concern that the trend could drive up the cost of local rents, lead to security issues and cause overcrowding.
The Council is proposing a new Article 4 Direction which, if confirmed, would mean that planning permission is required before any residential property in Havering can be converted into a new HMO.
At present, some detached homes in parts of the borough can be converted into HMOs without a planning application. The proposed change would make the requirements consistent across Havering and apply to all types of residential property.
Requiring planning permission would allow the Council to assess new HMO proposals against local planning policy and consider issues including:
- The quality of the accommodation and facilities provided
- The loss of family-sized homes and the concentration of HMOs within particular neighbourhoods
- Antisocial behaviour and pressure on local services
- Parking, transport and the effect on neighbouring properties
HMOs have been a concern raised with Julia by residents, particularly where properties are poorly managed or become concentrated within a small area.
Julia said:
“Residents have raised understandable concerns with me about the effect that poorly managed or over-concentrated HMOs can have on their neighbourhoods. With the Home Office taking out long contracts on such properties in other parts of the country to house people awaiting asylum decisions, there is a real risk that more HMOs in Havering might see the kind of challenges that have been reported elsewhere – rents driven up, community tensions increased and worry over security.
“It is vital that new HMO conversions are properly considered and suitable for both the people living in them and, importantly, the wider community.
“A borough-wide requirement for planning permission would give the Council a greater ability to examine the loss of family homes, the quality of accommodation, parking pressures and the potential impact on neighbouring residents.
“I encourage residents, businesses, landlords and other interested parties to read the proposals and share their views with the Council before the consultation closes.”
Subject to the outcome of the consultation, the Council proposes to implement the new Article 4 Direction one year after it is formally made.
