Another uni town tightens up HMO planning controls

Hatfield is the latest no-go town for student landlords as councillors have introduced new planning rules for house in multiple occupation. Small HMOs in the town - where the campus of the University of Hertfordshire is based - need planning permission before any rooms are let. The ruling covers family homes shared by three to five tenants who are unrelated - typically student houses or bedsits for young professionals. Large HMOs for six or more tenants already need planning permission. Landlords already renting out shared houses in the town do not need to apply for retrospective permission. The council reckons just over 7% of homes in the area - mostly near the university campus in Hatfield - are already HMOs. Councillor Mandy Perkins, executive member for planning and business, said: “HMOs form an important part of Hatfield’s housing stock. “However, some environmental problems have become apparent there over recent years in parts of the town with a high concentration of HMOs. “These new planning controls give us the capability to address such issues.” “Councillor Perkins identifies the problem as environmental but uses planning legislation to control who can live in the areas. By restricting students, the council also stops young working people from sharing houses and spending money in the local economy. House owners will also find their properties are worth less in the affected areas,” said Alan Ward chairman of the Residential Landlords Association Meanwhile, the rush is on to develop even more student housing in many cities. In Bristol, developers are getting their skates on to rush through planning to convert an ice rink in to flats for students, while plans are underway in Cambridge to switch a nightclub to uni halls and the old county hall local government office in Taunton to student homes. In Birmingham, the city’s former fire headquarters is also under consideration as a site for a student tower block.

Landlord blog

Siobhan Smith

Further reading

Demand for PBSA in the UK highlights global supply imbalance

Ministry of Justice lacks rent rise data from FtT decisions

Students face higher rents and longer commutes - survey