Yet another council says HMOs 'magnets for crime and bad behaviour'

A borough council leader in Kent has raised eyebrows after describing some of the HMOs in his town as “magnets for crime and anti-social behaviour” and that “HMOs don’t have a place in a modern civilised housing economy”.

These comments by Dartford’s leader Councillor Jeremy Kite (pictured) are not unusual among many council leaders across the UK and even some MPs,  although Kite also said: “I’m not having a pop at the whole HMO industry – there are some very good ones”.

Dartford has seen a doubling in the number of HMOs within the town over the past five years to some 75 properties, a trend which has prompted the council to produce a report highlighting potential changes to stop their growth, including a potential Article 4 direction, which would require planning permission for all new larger HMOs.

But despite public sentiment turning against this class of privately rented property both local and national advocates have been hitting back.

'Slums'

And one Kent firm, A&E Properties, recently told KentOnline that although its founders Ellis O’Sullivan and Aaron Prowse recognise HMOs are seen by many as ‘slums’ housing noisy neighbours and featuring ‘property in dissaray’ that are an ‘eyesore’, they say they’re offering something a world away from these pre-conceived ideas and instead “take pride in providing quality accommodation for working professionals, which is not only sound-proof, but has ample bin storage too”.

Vann Vogstad (pictured), founder of shared homes platform COHO, agrees, saying: “I believe shared living is one of the best solutions we have to the housing crisis.

“Not only is it affordable, but in a time where loneliness and the breakdown of community are on the rise, shared living offers something powerful: connection. It’s a modern way to live with like-minded people, where community, wellbeing, and fulfilment come together.

“But HMOs and shared houses still face a challenge in the form of public and council perception.

“As more local authorities turn to landlords to provide Crisis HMO housing for refugees and the homeless, there’s a real risk of further stigmatising shared living.  

“That’s what showcasing the kind of thoughtful, well-designed properties we’ve seen come through the HMO Summit awards submission has been really inspiring and utterly vital.”

Pic credit: Google Streetview