Question
Earlier this year, Liberal Democrat-run Three Rivers district council put in a notice for an article 4 direction. However, it will not come into effect until June 2027, with the council citing financial concerns, despite repeated calls from me and local Conservative councillors to do it sooner and protect my residents from overcrowded and unwanted HMOs. What advice can the Minister offer my residents, such as those who live in Muirfield Road in South Oxhey, who have already been affected by this issue?
Answer
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. All HMOs are obviously subject to management regulations, and local authorities must license HMOs in certain cases. An article 4 direction is often the way for local planning authorities to get control, but by the sound of it, that should have come a lot earlier in his local area.20% point-scoring
Verdict: AMBER (55/100)
The reply names specific existing tools that apply to affected residents: management regulations, mandatory licensing in certain cases, and article 4 directions for local planning control. It does not clearly tell residents what to do now, such as contacting their council, and its closing remark about the local authority is not practical advice. The question is partly answered, but a resident would likely need to ask again what action to take.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| What advice the Minister can offer residents, including those on Muirfield Road in South Oxhey, who have already been affected by overcrowded or unwanted houses in multiple occupation (HMOs). | Partially Addressed | Direct | The reply names concrete existing tools (management regulations, mandatory licensing in certain cases, and article 4 directions for local planning control), which are relevant to residents already affected. However, it never explicitly tells affected residents what to do now, such as contacting their council, and the closing remark is point-scoring about the local authority rather than advice. |