City set to extend HMO controls - decision this week

Limits to the number of homes being converted into Houses in Multiple Occupation in parts of Leicester are due to be introduced.

The measures are due to be brought in following a public consultation with residents who raised concerns about parking problems, litter, antisocial behaviour and noise linked to high numbers of HMOs in their neighbourhoods.

Under current national planning laws, planning consent is not needed to convert a house into a HMO designed for between three and six people to live in.

However, where there is evidence that high numbers of HMOs in a particular area is having a negative impact upon that neighbourhood, councils can introduce a legal requirement, called an Article 4 Direction, which would mean planning permission is needed for the change of use.

An Article 4 Direction has already been in place since 2013 in several areas of Leicester, to control the number of HMOs.

Now, following an eight-week public consultation, the council intends to include thousands more houses in areas where high numbers of HMOs exist.

The proportion of HMOs across the city as a whole is just under seven per cent of housing stock; however in some parts of the areas covered by the Article 4 Direction, HMOs account for between 25 and 38 per cent of housing stock.

A decision is due to be taken on Thursday.

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