Move to stop ‘cowboy’ landlords renting out ‘rabbit hutch’ homes

PLANS FOR RESTRICTIONS ON HMOs IN THREE TOWNS AFTER CONCERNS ABOUT ‘GET RICH QUICK SCHEMES’ FROM POOR QUALITY HOUSING

- By EDDIE BISKNELL

THREE towns could gain restrictions on shared houses to stop what councillors claim has been a surge in “cramped” homes more akin to “prison cells” and “rabbit hutches”.

At a meeting this month, Erewash Borough Council approved the start of an 18-month process to bring in additional restrictions for HMOs (houses in multiple occupancy) in parts of Ilkeston, Long Eaton and Sandiacre.

The measures - known as Article 4 - would make it mandatory for developers and landlords aiming to convert a property into a HMO to file a planning application.

As it stands, conversions of properties into HMOs with up to seven bedrooms do not need to file planning applications - though some choose to, while it is already essential to submit plans for conversions of eight beds or more.

The new restrictions would broaden the scope to all HMOs in order to gain a better idea and control over the amount of properties being converted and to ensure they are all sufficiently regulated.

HMOs which require planning applications also require adding to the borough's HMO register, including a licence comprising further checks and balances to aid landlords and tenants alike. These same restrictions have already been adopted in Nottingham and Derby.

A council meeting at Long Eaton Town Hall was told there were 60 licensed HMOs in the three towns but more than double that of currently unlicensed HMOs.