By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter
There are calls for people to have their say on plans to tackle rogue landlords and improve private rented housing in the city.
Two consultations have been launched by Gloucester City council aimed at tackling the rise of unregulated homes of multiple occupation while supporting landlords who provide safe and secure homes.
A HMO is a home where three or more people live in separate households with a shared kitchen or bathroom.
While many are well managed, issues such as poor housing conditions, overcrowding, and lack of housing security are more common in this type of accommodation.
There are also links to increased community complaints and anti-social behaviour.
HMOs can contribute to problems with waste and fly-tipping, put pressure on parking and on council services such as waste collection and increase complaints about damp or mould.
They can also reduce the supply of affordable family accommodation available with landlords willing to pay more for new properties that they can rent out to multiple tenants rather than a family.
The City Council wants to hear a range of views including those of residents, landlords, tenants, businesses, community organisations and stakeholders on two separate proposals.
The two proposals are:
- A citywide Additional Licensing Scheme for all HMOs (currently only those with five or more tenants need a licence) and certain poorly converted buildings known as Section 257 HMOs.
- A scheme requiring planning permission to convert family homes into small HMOs in six wards – Kingsholm & Wotton, Westgate, Barton & Tredworth, Moreland, Kingsway and Elmbridge.
City Council leader Jeremy Hilton (LD, Kingsholm and Wotton) said: “We recognise the role HMOs play in Gloucester’s housing market, but we also know that unmanaged growth and poor conditions can have a serious impact on tenants and the wider community.
“For too long the proliferation of HMOs in some areas has become uncontrolled, with conversion after conversion. It is changing the very nature of many established communities. Small family homes are being converted to multiple occupancy.
“In Gloucester there is inadequate regulation which is why we are consulting on the licensing of all HMOs, rather than just the larger ones. In the six wards most affected we plan to introduce Article 4 Direction that will require planning permission for all new HMOs.
“These proposals aim to raise standards, support responsible landlords, and ensure that HMOs contribute positively to our communities. We must ensure that our communities stay balanced and cohesive.”
Gloucester has around 1,680 HMOs, but only around 340 of these are larger HMOs with five or more tenants meaning they are licensed under the current mandatory scheme.
The proposed planning permission requirements would not prevent new HMOs from being created but would look at their impact on issues such as local character, parking, waste.
The consultations will run until 11 May and there will be two public meetings on the 15 April and an online event to gather views.
The proposals will also be discussed at the landlords’ forum on the 2 April. Further details will be published on the Council’s website Have your say | Gloucester City Council.
Residents can take part in the consultation clicking on Gloucester City Council HMO Consultations – ARK Consultancy