Wigan in Greater Manchester has become the latest council to clamp down on HMOs.
The borough council’s cabinet has voted to bring in planning restrictions for those seeking to convert family homes into smaller HMOs across the whole town – smaller meaning those containing fewer than six individuals.
In 2020 the town brought in an article 4 direction exempting it from national ‘permitted development’ rules for smaller HMOs in two wards – Swinley and Leigh – but the council’s report cites evidence that this displaced the rise in HMOs to other areas.
David Proctor (main image, inset), its assistant director of planning and regeneration says this leaves the council with little choice but to bring in an Article 4 direction for the whole town.
“We recognise that HMOs are an important part of the overall housing offer,” he says.
“There is a genuine need that exists in the borough, but we do think that it's desirable to have that part of the housing market evolve in a controlled and managed way. So, with that in mind, the report is proposing that we extend the article 4 area to the whole of the borough.
“That would mean that all HMOs, regardless of size, regardless of where they are, require planning permission and are subject to our planning policies.
Proctor says the number of HMOs within wigan has risen significantly over the past five years from 107 in 2021 to 285 currently.
Councillor Dane Anderton (pictured), adds: “Let’s be clear, this direction has not been taken lightly, it is evidenced by really good data, by advocacy.
“It has been put forward by the data that underpins it. We are finding that some are well managed and some are not and our private sector rental team need some support in this.
“But again, this is not just about politics. This is about good data and evidence led policy making.”
The decision made by the councillors will now move to a 21-day public consultation before implementation, most likely next month.
But such decisions do not go ahead - as LandlordZONE reported last year, a council in Surrey U-turned on similar HMO restrictions after citing worries that it woudl restrict the provision of affordable housing.
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