Reading Council is poised to introduce wider restrictions on HMO conversions across five wards in the city.

The authority plans to create a new Article 4 direction which includes a wider area of Park, Redlands and Katesgrove wards, as well as in parts of Church and Thames wards.

An Article 4 direction was introduced by the council in 2012, in much of Park, Redlands, and Katesgrove wards but since then, residents have voiced increasing concerns about the growing number of HMOs being created which fall outside of the existing area.

It acknowledges that as an employment hub and home to a large student population, Reading has high demand for HMO rental properties but says they can cause community issues where they are prevalent.

Visual

A visual street survey identified various impacts arising from concentrations of HMOs including the presence of to-let boards, poorly maintained property frontages, a proliferation of bins and subsequent lack of adequate bin storage and high levels of on-street parking, particularly in residential areas of Newtown.

A common concern in a residents’ survey was visible decline in an area. Many speculated that this was due to absentee or profit-driven landlords. Several also raised anti-social behaviour, late-night disturbance and, less frequently, crime, drug use and feeling less safe.

The report adds: “It was very clear that the vast majority of residents surveyed want further controls imposed.”

Demand

‍Micky Leng, lead councillor for planning, says there continues to be huge demand for private rental properties in Reading, and it follows that the number of HMOs being created is increasing. “The council has a responsibility to retain and preserve the character of local communities however, and that is something we need to balance with the demand for HMOs,” he explains.

“We know that a prevalence of HMOs in parts of our town can lead to issues in a local community. Examples include pressure on limited parking or multiple bin collections at HMO addresses. More fundamentally, HMOs can change the look, feel and character of a local neighbourhood, which existing residents understandably have concerns over.”

The plan will be considered by councillors on 12 November, followed by a 21-day consultation. The change would not come into force at least 12 months after the direction is made to avoid claims for compensation from landlords.

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