Plans to restrict family homes from being converted into houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) have been rejected by the Government. Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook argued that local authorities already possess adequate powers, through Article 4 Directions, to control HMO growth and determine what is suitable for their area.
Article 4 Directions allow councils to remove permitted development rights, which enable property owners to convert family homes into HMOs without planning permission. This enables local authorities to impose stricter controls on HMO conversions, taking account of the local housing needs and character.
The decision has been met with disappointment by those who had advocated for new legislation to limit HMO conversions. Labour MP Sarah Jones stated that the current system is failing to protect local communities from the negative impacts of HMO growth.
The Government's stance has been welcomed by some as a defence of property rights, but others will continue to push for stricter controls on HMO conversions. Local authorities and residents are likely to be closely watching the implications of this decision, which have sparked heated debates about whether HMOs meet the UK's housing needs or lead to neighbourhood degradation.