The first formal consultation on this issue revealed strong public support for the existence of an HMO policy – the Cabinet will decide what specific measures should be put forward for a further round of consultation.
What are the proposals?
Planning permission will be required for future changes of use from family houses into HMOs across Bath from 1st July 2013. The Cabinet will consider a simple two stage process which should flag up whether a change of use is likely to be permitted at the earliest stage.
- At stage 1, if a property is located within an area with 25% or more existing HMO planning permission is likely to be refused for a change of use from a family house to an HMO and a more detailed stage 2 assessment is triggered;
- Where a property is not located within an area of 25% or more HMOs then change of use is likely to be granted subject to other planning considerations.
"I am pleased that the council is using the figure of 25% to be consulted upon rather than the origional proposals of 20% recomended by the consultants, I am told by the cabinet member that this is because of the content of student representations that are concerned about availability of accommodation and this level should create a fair balance."
The Council will use its own records of HMOs which it has mapped to make this judgment and this base map is due to be updated every 6 months with the latest data. The proposals would particularly affect major parts of Oldfield Park, Westmoreland and Widcombe Wards and smaller areas in Lower Weston and London Road. The policy also includes a guide to assessing whether a property qualifies as a HMO and includes some guidance on design considerations for HMOs including waste and recycling, cycle parking and room layout.
"The issue of HMOs is clearly one that local people feel strongly about judging by the results of the recent consultation. Bath & North East Somerset Council must act to ensure that there is a fair mix of larger family homes and HMOs and the Cabinet will be considering how the local planning rules should reflect this. We must make clear that whilst HMOs are an important part of local housing supply, it is the concentration of them in certain neighbourhoods that is the concern. Whatever is decided, we will be urging people to have their say through the next round of consultation.”
Other University cities across the country, such as Exeter and Oxford, that face similar issues to Bath and they have all agreed additional planning controls over HMOs.
If the Cabinet approves the planning guidance the new approach will be launched for public consultation on 18th October 2012 until 30th November.
The Council is also currently consulting on proposals that HMO landlords in areas with a large number of HMOs be required to apply for a licence to improve management and housing quality. The latest information can be found at www.bathnes.gov.uk/hmo
