Big expansion of HMO planning rules go live in North

New rules in the borough of Blackburn with Darwen (main picture) will put a stop to family homes being converted into HMOs in a bid to raise standards and stamp out anti-social behaviour.

Councillors voted to support an Article 4 Direction which will help regulate this kind of property – i.e. where at least three people who aren’t from the same household rent a space and share facilities like bathrooms and kitchens – in urban areas across the borough.

PLANNING PERMISSION

Before the new regulations were introduced houses could be changed into HMOs without the need for applying for planning permission.

But now, they’ll only be allowed as an exception.

Councillor Quesir Mahmood, Blackburn with Darwin Council’s Executive Member for Growth and Development, says: “We wanted to take a real hard line on HMOs in our borough.

“Whilst the planning actions taken so far to resist additional HMO approvals in designated areas are considered to have been successful, there have been increasing concerns, from across the Council, that the number of HMO beds in the borough is still growing.

“Currently, we estimate that there are around 1,000 bed spaces in HMOs here which is far more than our neighbouring boroughs and disproportionate to our local needs.”

STRAIN

Due to the number of beds in a typical HMO it often means that people are brought from outside of the borough putting a huge strain on services in the area.

Mahmood adds: “For many owners the HMOs are incredibly lucrative but the sheer number of them is having a negative impact on our borough and we knew we needed to take further action to stop that.

“These new powers mean we can take a much tougher stance on HMOs, which we know can be a magnet for anti-social behaviour and often are in need of improved standards.”