Have your say on proposals to control County Durham HMOs
RESIDENTS are invited to have their say on proposals to control the number of new Houses of
Multiple Occupation (HMO) across County Durham.
Durham County Council is proposing to introduce a countywide Article 4 Direction for HMOs. This
would mean that all new HMOs would require planning approval, not just larger developments as is
currently the case. Cabinet has already agreed the measure in principle, with residents now being
asked to give their views on the plan.
Cllr Lyndsey Fox, Cabinet member for economy and partnerships, said: “We understand that an
overconcentration of HMOs can have a negative effect on communities. Residents have already
expressed concerns around the impact these properties can have on their neighbourhoods.
“Often, this is because of issues such as increased noise, parking, waste disposal and the general
appearance of properties, though they can also have more long-term implications, for example,
through the loss of family housing.
“As it stands, an HMO for six people or under does not require planning permission, so we often
do not know about these until they are established.
“Following a steady increase in HMOs over the past few years, we believe the introduction of an
Article 4 Direction is necessary to help to control the number of these properties and help us to
maintain a better distribution of mixed and balanced communities across the county.
“We’d therefore encourage as many people as possible to have their say on the proposals and
share their views over the coming weeks.”
Under current legislation, houses can be converted into small HMOs for between three and six
residents without the need for planning permission. There are current protests in Crook where a
former council-owned, three-bedroom house is to be converted into an HMO with room for five
occupants.
Neighbours in Low Mown Meadows Estate have been making representations against the move.
Their protests have made no difference with the application passed by the council’s planning
department. The decision was made based on the change being permitted development with a
report from the Durham County Council’s planning department saying: “The local planning authority
has no reason or evidence to contradict the applicant’s position.”
This looks set to change because an Article 4 Direction can be used by a local authority to require
all new HMOs to be the subject of a planning application, regardless of the size, if it has concerns
over the number of HMOs.
An Article 4 Direction for HMOs has already been introduced by the council in three areas because
of a high concentration of student properties. These cover Durham City; Framwellgate Moor,
Newton Hall and Pity Me; and Mount Oswald, Carrville and Belmont.
With concerns also being raised around an increase in HMOs in other neighbourhoods, the council
is proposing to introduce an Article 4 Direction for the whole of the county from August next year.
Residents have until 26 September to have their say on the proposed measure. To take part in the
consultation online, people should visit the council’s engagement platform,
www.letstalkcountydurham.co.uk .
A paper copy of the survey can also be picked up at any County Durham library and returned to
the authority.
In addition to the consultation, the council will continue to collate evidence across the county in
relation to HMOs. If evidence suggests there is a case for an ‘immediate’ Article 4 Direction to cover
specific areas of the county, further reports will be brought before Cabinet.
Cllr Fox added: “Residents can be assured that in areas where we continue to see high levels of
HMO creation, we will not hesitate to bring forward proposals for immediate Article 4 Directions.”
