Shared housing 'forcing me out of my home'

HMOs have been credited with helping to meet housing demand

A woman says she has been left with no choice but to sell her home due to issues with the tenants living in shared housing next door.

Julie, not her real name, told the BBC she has been threatened by tenants living in the six-bedroom house next door in Mansfield, which has left her fearing for her safety.

Her Labour MP Steve Yemm said Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs) - which are homes shared by between three and six unrelated people - were creating "real problems" in the Nottinghamshire town.

Mansfield District Council said it had seen a "small increase" in applications for HMOs this year.

'Vicious circle'

Currently, family homes can change use to a HMO for up to six people without the need for a planning application.

Yemm led a debate in Parliament on Tuesday where he said the issues were most prevalent in Forest Town, Warsop and Mansfield Woodhouse.

Julie bought her terraced house four years ago and said the issues including drug use, parking and littering have been "horrendous".

"Three tenants smoke cannabis so it constantly smells in my house," she said.

"I've been threatened and I had my door kicked in by one of the tenants. My mental and physical health has been so badly affected."

Julie said she had also found needles, dirty quilts and a bag of used sanitary towels outside her home, and so plans to put it up for sale after Christmas.

"It's a vicious circle," she said. "You have an issue with one tenant, then they move out and there's issues with other tenants.

"I'm being forced out of my own home. Sometimes I have to stay with my partner because I don't feel safe.

"Something has to change with these licenses for HMOs."

Julie said an officer from Nottinghamshire police had been assigned to her case.

She said Yemm's debate on the topic "means the world because he's the only person who has listened to me".

Mansfield MP Steve Yemm has voiced concerns about HMOs

Yemm said he wanted to see more powers such as Article 4 directions being used by local councils to combat the issue.

This would remove automatic planning rights for creating HMOs in certain areas.

The rule, which can be introduced by councils, means anyone wanting to change a family home into a small HMO must first apply for planning permission.

"HMOs can provide flexible, affordable housing for people but in Mansfield, the balance tips too far," he said.

"We've got too many family homes being converted too quickly with very little control or consideration for people locally here.

"The result that they see on their street is more noise, more parking pressure, often more rubbish, higher turnover of residents and less community cohesion."

Martin Radcliffe said parking on his street in Mansfield had been made more difficult by HMOs

Martin Radcliffe has lived in his Mansfield home for 35 years and told the BBC he noticed more HMOs appearing about three years ago.

"The community which was around us is disappearing. You've got no way of knowing who your neighbours are," he said.

"There is no off-street parking so it absolutely chokes up the street.

"I'm disabled and often I have to park further than I can walk to get home which is very painful."

He is calling for HMO applications to go through the planning process and "stricter controls" to be applied.

HMOs 'much needed'

Samantha Dixon, the minister for building safety, fire and democracy, said in the debate that HMOs can play an "important part" in the housing market.

"Local authorities should be able to take action, where necessary, to minimise any negative impacts that concentrations of such accommodation may have on local areas," she said.

She added 75 councils had used Article 4 directions and if Mansfield District Council wished to do the same, "it will be a decision for them to take locally, it's not something the government should seek to influence".

Mansfield District Council said: "All applications are judged on merit against specific criteria to make sure homes are up to the required standards and policies outlined in the Mansfield District Local Plan and national guidance.

"We do not currently have any Article 4 directions in place. Article 4 does not prevent HMOs, and any such order has to be justified in terms of evidence for its need.

"Planning permission does not look at who landlords rent their homes to.

"HMOs serve a much-needed housing option for many different people in Mansfield such as students, nursing staff, young people and professionals who are looking to share living costs."