The towns and cities causing concern aren’t always the well-known university locations with Winchester, Plymouth and Bath all generating headlines over fears that student housing in their cities are causing housing and social problems.
Now, two more towns have joined the roll-call with councillors in Falmouth mounting a fresh bid to stop any more houses of multiple occupation (HMOs) for students opening.
Concerned councillors are planning to enforce an Article 4 directive on the town after fears were raised that families are being forced to leave the area in favour of students.
The previous attempt to secure a directive reached Cornwall County Council but was thrown out at the committee stage.
While the plan was not backed by the county council’s officers and councillors it has now been adopted by many other university towns.
Now new councillors on both Falmouth Town Council and the county council feel the time is ripe for a fresh push to bring in restrictions after the announcement of the Combined Universities of Cornwall being created and the expansion of Falmouth University.
Falmouth Councillor Candy Atherton told a recent meeting that increasing numbers of HMOs have been creating problems for students and residents alike.
She said: “Some landlords fail to take action when their tenants cause issues and effectively walk away from their responsibilities.”
She added that not all landlords are like this but said that local families were struggling to compete to rent a family home and others are being priced out of the market.
Meanwhile, in Leamington, Warwickshire, councillors have agreed to impose a moratorium on student HMOs – the day after granting permission for two HMO properties.
Both properties are quite substantial and include converting a former pub into a 16 bedroom student home while the second project will see a 14 bedroom nursing home being converted.
The idea has been to put forward by Councillor Matt Western, who has recently been elected to Warwickshire County Council.
He says that while on his election campaign he had lots of people urging him to take action against the increasing number of student HMOs which have been developed in the area.
He told councillors that the boom in student housing was distorting local communities and that properties were being priced beyond the reach of young couples and families.
While admitting that landlords and students pay council tax he said there is a shortfall on the amount that is really needed and that a direct levy on landlords of student properties should be introduced.
