North East Lincolnshire Council Seeks Better Data on HMOs

North East Lincolnshire Council is taking steps to improve its understanding of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) due to a current lack of adequate data. During a recent meeting of a cross-party working group, the council acknowledged that it does not possess sufficient evidence to support potential regulatory changes regarding HMOs. The discussions focused on the growing political attention surrounding HMOs, particularly in relation to associated issues such as parking shortages and the decline of available family housing.

Need for Comprehensive Data

The working group emphasized the necessity of collecting concrete data to justify any future actions regarding HMOs. According to a report presented to the councillors, the local authority “currently holds very limited data to confirm or dismiss if the current stock of smaller HMOs have a negative impact on our communities.” This absence of data complicates the estimation of how many family homes have been converted into HMOs.

Cllr Philip Jackson, the Conservative leader of the council, expressed the urgency of the matter, indicating that more investigations are required to demonstrate the significance of HMOs and to equip the council with the necessary data for informed decision-making. He stated, “We all want to focus on this issue because we recognise it’s a significant issue not only in North East Lincolnshire but also in other parts of the country.”

Cllr Nicola Aisthorpe, leader of the Liberal Democrat group, echoed this sentiment, asserting, “We can’t fix what we can’t measure.” The working group reached a consensus to recommend further analysis of census data and housing and economic needs assessments (HEDNA) to determine HMO numbers and the availability of one-bedroom housing stock.

Current Licensing Landscape

At present, the council has confirmed that there are 178 properties licensed as mandatory HMOs housing five or more individuals. Of these, 53 are located in Park Ward and 52 in Sidney Sussex. Under existing regulations, only HMOs with seven or more bedrooms require full planning permission and licensing, while those with five or six bedrooms need only a license. Smaller HMOs, consisting of three to four bedrooms, do not require either, which leaves a significant gap in the council’s data.

Cllr Les Bonner, representing the Independents for North East Lincolnshire Group, highlighted the implications of this growth in HMOs, linking it to a severe shortage of accommodation for single individuals. He suggested that social housing providers should focus more on this demographic, stating, “It would be interesting to see whether we could persuade some of our social housing providers to concentrate on single people.”

During the meeting, Cllr Bonner shared a troubling example involving inadequate living conditions, illustrating the challenges faced by residents in HMOs. He recounted a conversation with a woman who had to wake up at three o’clock in the morning to ensure she could prepare for her six o’clock work shift, highlighting the impact of overcrowded facilities.

The report also outlined two potential measures for addressing HMO issues: requiring licenses for three and four-bedroom HMOs and implementing an Article 4 Direction. This would not prevent new HMOs from being established but would mandate that they obtain planning permission, regardless of their size, in certain geographic areas.

In a previous council meeting, members agreed to Labour proposals for a select committee to examine the Article 4 Direction, which will overlap with the working group’s focus on selective licensing. Cllr Matt Patrick from Labour criticized the working group for its lack of progress regarding HMOs, emphasizing the need for the select committee’s findings to be taken into account. Cllr Aisthorpe responded that the council’s capacity and staffing limitations have hindered simultaneous efforts on both fronts.

The council is committed to addressing the challenges posed by HMOs and will continue to seek comprehensive data to inform future decisions. With ongoing discussions regarding housing needs, the council aims to balance the requirements of current residents with the growing demand for diverse housing options in North East Lincolnshire.