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In My Area
Home In My Area Save Housing in Leeds
Save Housing in Leeds
Friday, March 18, 2011 - 1:24pm
Do you let properties to 3 or more unrelated tenants in Leeds? If the answer is yes then you let a shared house - A House in Multiple Occupation (HMO).
Leeds City Council is limiting groups of people living together in ‘family homes’ by restricting planning permission for new shared houses in several parts of the city through what is known as Article 4 Directions.
In February 2011, Leeds City Council made an Article 4 Direction across the wards of Adel and Wharfedale, Armley, Beeston Hill and Holbeck, Bramley and Stanningley, Burmantofts and Richmond Hill, Chapel Allerton, City and Hunslet, Gipton and Harehills, Headingley, Horsforth, Hyde Park and Woodhouse, Kirkstall, Moortown, Roundhay and Weetwood. This Direction came into force in February 2012.
Beyond the obvious problems this will cause for reputable landlords who wish to increase their portfolio’s, the National Landlords Association believes this is going to have a massive impact on the supply of good quality, affordable private rented accommodation in Leeds.
The City Council is now consulting on how they will implement this policy through their Core Strategy. They propose:
"Within the area of Leeds covered by the Article IV Direction for Houses in Multiple Occuaption (HMOs), Development proposals for new HMOs will be determined:i) To ensure that a sufficient supply of HMOs is maintained in Leeds,ii) To ensure that HMOs are distributed in areas well connected to employment and educational destinations associated with HMO occupants,iii) To avoid detrimental impacts through high concentrations of HMOs, which would undermine the balance and health of communitiesBased on these criteria's, supplmentary planning advice will set ceilings for the proportion of HMOs desirable in different geographies of Leeds."
The NLA does not think this is appropriate. In particular, we are very concerned with the Council's proposal to set the rules over where a new HMO can be located through a Supplementary Planning Document. This will allow the Council is avoid the policy being independent scrutiniesd by a Government Planning Inspector.
Get Involved
Please support us in opposing this direction and its implementation policy by joining the campaign.
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