Student housing across the UK is facing a new threat. As a parting shot by an outgoing government, planning powers were brought in that required planning permission to be applied for if you want to change the use of a property from single use to multiple occupancy. This effectively removed this permitted development right.
At the time the Shadow Housing minister said this would be overturned when his party took power. This happened - to a point - however the new government made it easier .
Individual councils were given the choice of requiring planning permission for this change of use, by invoking Article 4 powers. Like the approach to student fees ("I'm sure most of them will not want to charge £9,000 per year"...) the government probably did not think most university cities would want these powers. Unfortunately they did, and still do. Cantebury, Durham, Exeter, Leeds, Loughborough, Manchester, Nottingham, and many more, have these powers. Nottingham seems to go one step further and appears to be refusing all applications on principle.
This is killing the marketplace for multiple occupancy property in these areas. By doing this it locks in the existing bad landlords (who may want to sell) and dissuades new landlords - with new money - from entering into the sector.
There are a number of good reasons to put controls on HMO properties. Anti social behaviour, lack of property standards, low quality landlords, etc. However these are already catered for within the existing legislation which work well. Article 4 powers have given councils the power to restrict the supply of HMO properties at a time where there is an increasing need. Young professionals and students have a valid need to share housing, as they get to share the high cost of housing and enjoy independent life. There is also a growing market for housing benefit tenants for LHA (again caused by a disasterous government decision to increase the age at which you are only entitled to a shared room rate).
Landlords do have a right to reply. Write to your local MP. Lobby your local landlord assocation (The RLA is particularly active nationally, and there are many good local associations - SPLA, NLA, NWPOA).
Finally add your name to an e-petition for this purpose:
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/34625
