Bath and North East Somerset Council Meeting 12 Oct 2006

News Story :: 2007-01-18 16:36:45

The National HMO Lobby's Ten Point Plan (para 2.10) proposes that all concerned with concentrations of HMOs lobby the government to amend the Use Classes Order, so that planning control can be exercised over HMOs.

Of course, the Lobby itself has done so since we began. It's encouraging to report that two councils in England have recently resolved to do so too, Bath on 12 October and Southampton on 17 January (though there has been some debate over the exact wording of the latter).

BATH AND NORTH EAST SOMERSET COUNCIL

MINUTES OF COUNCIL MEETING, Thursday 12th October 2006

55 HOUSES IN MULTIPLE OCCUPATION (HMOs) AND USE CLASSES ORDER (Report 7).

On a motion from Councillor Shaun McGall seconded by Councillor Nicole O`Flaherty it was RESOLVED that:

This Council notes:

That under current regulations no permission is required for change of use of residential properties between single and multiple occupancy.
That the usage of houses of multiple occupancy (HMOs) is entirely distinct from usage as a single household.
That this distinction has an impact on the locality and therefore should be reflected in the Use Class Order regulations
That in Northern Ireland these regulations have been amended so that permission is required to change use of property from single occupancy to HMO
That this is supported by the National HMO Lobby which includes the Bath Federation of Residents Associations
That this change allows local residents and councillors to get involved through the planning process in ensuring that we are building sustainable communities and that there is joined up thinking on HMOs.

This Council supports:

A change to the Use Classes Order regulations to require permission for change of use to HMO.

This Council RESOLVES that :

(a) The Executive Councillor for Sustainability and the Environment and the Executive Councillor for Community Safety, Housing and Consumer Services with the Chair of the Student Liaison Committee which is a Council Executive Advisory Body, audit the Council's current Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) policy. This should consider the following:

Its effectiveness in implementing the mandatory HMO requirements and the Councils approach to discretionary extended powers, including issues related to the HMO definition in achieving Bath and North East Somerset housing objectives.
Assess the possible effectiveness of using planning control and enforcement as a means of enhancing Bath and North East Somerset housing policy objectives in terms of a change to the Town and Country Planning Use Classes Order definition of Dwelling-houses (Residential). This should also consider its relationship to the HMO definitions, including any proposed modifications to those definitions similar to those related to students in Northern Ireland.

(b) Once this is complete, and at the earliest practicable opportunity, a report be submitted to Council outlining what action could be taken with a view to submitting a representation to the Government.

(c) To request a meeting between the Council (represented by the Executive Councillor for Sustainability and the Environment and the Executive Councillor for Community Safety, Housing and Consumer Services with the Chair of the Student Liaison Committee which is a Council Executive Advisory Body) and senior management of the two Universities and the City of Bath College for the purpose of undertaking an audit of their current student let and property management policies.