Council boss to 'draw line in the sand' over HMOs

Councillor Rob Waltham previously said he did not want to "demonise" HMOs

New rules to strengthen when properties can be converted into houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) could come into force by autumn 2026.

Earlier this month, North Lincolnshire Council members voted to approve an Article 4 Direction, requiring all HMO conversions to have full planning permission.

Rob Waltham, the Conservative leader of the council, said: "We are drawing a line in the sand; homes must work for local people, not be exploited by rogue landlords."

A three-week public consultation is set to take place from the end of October with a final decision on the changes expected to be made by the council's cabinet early next year.

Waltham said developers were "looking to exploit a market loophole" with HMO applications, which was putting communities "under pressure".

Currently, full planning permission is only needed for HMOs with seven or more bedrooms.

Under the Article 4 Direction, all planned HMOs, including those with three to six bedrooms, would be required to have full planning permission.

The changes are likely to apply to specific wards in Scunthorpe rather than the whole of North Lincolnshire, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Existing small HMOs would not be affected by the changes.

There are 206 known HMOs in North Lincolnshire, mostly with five bedrooms or fewer, with another 205 properties suspected but not proven to be HMOs.

Crosby and Park and Town Ward account for 136 known HMOs and are also home to 160 of the suspected HMOs.

'Homes at risk'

Labour opposition group leader Len Foster said he was "in total support" of the process but was "more than a little concerned about the timescale on implementation of Article 4".

Darryl Southern, councillor for Frodingham, said he did not want there to be an assumption that HMOs attract anti-social behaviour, adding that he came from one as well as his friends.

The HMO rule change would take 12 months to bring into force.

Waltham added: "This is not something councils do lightly – it is rare to take this step and follows a lengthy legal process.

"But where family homes are at risk, and where communities are being undermined, we will act."

Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.

Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices