Alan Whitehead

Labour Party | Southampton Test

WHITEHEAD DEMANDS GREATER PROTECTION FOR FAMILY HOUSING

Dr Alan Whitehead, MP for Southampton Test, will today introduce a Ten Minute Rule Bill into Parliament enabling local authorities to have planning powers to regulate Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMO). Whilst the 2004 Housing Act provided an important route in the maintenance and basic standards of HMOs, there is still nothing in law which prevents certain areas and communities being flooded with shared housing which often leads to the demise in the availability of family housing, Dr Whitehead’s Bill seeks to remedy this.

Dr Whitehead’s Bill will bring HMOs under local authority planning law so that landlords have to apply to change the use of a family home into a HMO thereby giving local communities control over the make-up of their community. Currently substantial parts of the housing stock in particular areas in our cities and towns are taken over with HMOs, particularly where there are large student populations, such as Southampton. Dr Whitehead is concerned about the affect that the changes in housing profiles are having on the character and amenities of particular communities in Southampton, particularly with the problems that are created for the sale and purchase of family housing in those areas.

Dr Whitehead said:

“It is important that our towns and cities have a proper supply of housing for all sections of the community and it is therefore right that local authorities have the power to plan this balance through positive policies on planning applications. At the moment there is absolutely nothing to prevent a landlord buying a family property and then moving perhaps half a dozen people in without undertaking substantial conversion. The flooding of certain areas in Southampton with accommodation like this is having adverse affects on the local community and needs to be remedied. My Bill is a simple Bill but it will give Local Authorities the power to control the number of houses of multiple occupation and also define what constitutes a family home so that any change of use is appropriate and beneficial to the local and wider community at large.”

The Bill will be introduced into Parliament for its’ First Reading today and its’ full title is:
That leave be given to bring in a Bill to require planning approval for the change of use of housing to multiple occupation; and for connected purposes.