Question
Many communities, including those in my constituency, are concerned about the concentration of HMOs. There is a perception that local authorities do not have the powers to be able to tackle this. I want to be very clear that I am not against HMOs in principle; this is about how they are abused. I know the Government have carried out a consultation, but do they feel that local authorities are able to strike the right balance between meeting housing needs and maintaining community cohesion?
Answer
I thank my hon. Friend and constituency neighbour for that question. We do keep the powers to regulate HMOs under review, and I do want to know from any Member of the House where local authorities do not think those powers are adequate. The key to ensuring that HMOs are properly regulated, particularly where that is necessary to protect the amenity or wellbeing of an area, is having strong policies in an up-to-date local plan. I know that our local authority is putting in place strong policies in our area.
Verdict: AMBER (40/100)
The question asked how the balance between meeting housing need and protecting community cohesion is handled when it comes to houses in multiple occupation (HMOs). The reply points to strong, up-to-date local plan policies as the main way to manage HMOs and protect an area's character, and says the relevant powers are kept under review. It does not directly address the balance between housing need and community cohesion that the question asked about, so the asker would likely need to follow up.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| What is the Government's view on whether local authorities are able to strike the right balance between meeting housing needs and maintaining community cohesion in relation to the concentration of HMOs. | Partially Addressed | Direct | Statement 4 gives the Government's position that strong, up-to-date local plan policies are the key mechanism for regulating HMOs to protect an area's amenity, which implicitly says local authorities can manage HMO concentration. However, it never addresses the question's explicit balance between meeting housing needs and community cohesion, and statement 2 only says the powers are kept under review. |