17
Jun
Cutting Red Tape - Great assistance to landlords
The Minister for Housing and Local Government (The Rt Hon Grant
Shapps): Today (17.6.10) I am announcing the
Government’s intention to amend the planning rules for houses
in multiple occupation (HMOs) which were introduced on 6 April
2010.
I understand the concerns of local people who see their
neighbourhoods being damaged by undue concentrations of HMOs and
the significant impact this is having on their quality of life.
However there are also many areas where HMOs are not causing
problems and indeed provide an important supply of low cost
housing. I believe that the planning system needs to take account
of both these differing circumstances and allow for local solutions
rather than continue with the present ‘one size fits
all’ approach.
The current rules impose a blanket requirement for planning
permission in order to change use from a domestic house to a HMO.
When introduced, it was estimated that these rules could result in
an additional 8,500 planning applications per year and could lead
to a reduction in supply. This goes against the recommendations in
successive reports on the planning system that Government should
reduce the number of planning applications for minor development.
It also runs the risk of losing low cost housing in areas where it
is needed most.
I believe that we need to move away from this kind of
centralised, regulatory approach which has dominated planning in
recent years and create a system which encourages local people to
take responsibility for shaping their communities. Decisions should
reflect local priorities expressed through the local plan, rather
than nationally imposed rules.
I therefore intend to amend the HMO rules to allow changes of
use between family houses and small, shared houses to take place
freely without the need for planning applications. However, in
those areas experiencing problems with uncontrolled HMO
development, local authorities will be able to use their existing
direction making powers to restrict this freedom of movement by
requiring planning applications. This change will allow the free
development of smaller shared housing, which is a vital component
of our private rented sector, unless there is a serious threat to
the area.
My officials will work through the detail of the proposed
changes with interested partners to ensure that the new rules work
for local people without placing an unnecessary burden on
businesses.
My aim is to have the revised arrangements in place by 1 October
2010.