New HMO rules not 'anti-student' says councillor

MOVE TO LIMIT SHARED HOUSES IN BOROUGH

- By EDDIE BISKNELL Local democracy reporter

A NOTTINGHAMSHIRE council is seeking to expand planning restrictions to address "accelerating" growth in HMOs.

Broxtowe Borough Council's cabinet met on Tuesday, March 3, when approval was sought to expand the existing Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) restrictions in the borough.

Under current planning policy, changing a home to a small HMO - housing three to six residents - is classed as "permitted development", meaning planning permission from a local authority is not needed.

However, in the nine months from January 1 to September 1, 2025, Broxtowe Borough Council received 15 HMO applications - the most out of all Nottingham-shire districts and boroughs.

Council documents show Bees-ton Central has 426 HMOs, Bees-ton West has 148, Beeston North has 139 and Beeston Rylands has 39. Attenborough and Chilwell East have 13, and Stapleford South West has 12.

They also say Eastwood, Kimberley and Stapleford "exhibit early but accelerating HMO growth", where clusters have been forming around older housing stock and main transport corridors.