Reform-run West Northamptonshire Council has proposed a new forum to prepare its HMO landlords for likely new rules as the council reviews its approach this kind of housing.
The authority is scrutinising HMOs in a bid to forecast potential future supply and demand up to 2043. It is looking at how to manage the condition and operation of HMOs in the Northampton area to ensure they are safe and suitable for tenants as well as reviewing standards for shared living space, facilities, and overall living conditions as part of the new local plan.
It believes a forum could be a good way to work better with landlords, tenants and the wider community through partnership and education.
The authority is looking at how to use the planning system to better manage the creation of new HMOs and their impact on the local area. It will also review the 10% concentration rule to ensure it is robust and evidence based, consider empowering officers with the flexibility to make fair, case-by-case judgements, and how to manage the impact of HMOs on neighbours, including, parking, amenities, streetscape, waste storage and behaviour.
Councillor Thomas Manning (pictured), cabinet member for planning and communities, says: “We want to make sure our policies reflect what really matters to the people who live and work in West Northamptonshire. HMOs play a vital role in our housing mix, and this review is a chance to get it right - for communities, for tenants, and for the future.”
It already has an additional licensing scheme and in 2020 introduced Article 4 Directions across all of Northampton where 1,006 properties had a valid HMO licence in June 2024.
Local residents are being encouraged to attend a drop-in event today from 1pm–6pm at The Court Room at the Guildhall, to see proposals, while landlords can also have their say at https://www.westnorthants.gov.uk/planning-policy/new-local-plan-west-northamptonshire by 1st August. Feedback will be summarised in a public document to help shape final policy recommendations.
Pic credit: Daily Motion/Streetview
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