North Lincolnshire Council is introducing stringent regulations that may facilitate the control of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) conversions by autumn 2026. The Council members unanimously endorse an Article 4 Direction, which in turn necessitates comprehensive planning permission for all prospective HMO conversions.
Rob Waltham, the Conservative leader of the council, stated, ‘We are setting a clear boundary; properties must serve local citizens, rather than being exploited by unscrupulous landlords.’ A three-week period of public consultation is scheduled to start by the end of October, indicating a final resolution from the council’s cabinet in the early part of the following year.
Waltham underscored how property developers are ‘capitalising on a market loophole’ with their HMO applications, which is placing significant strain on communities. Current regulations stipulate that full planning permission is exclusively necessary for HMOs accommodating seven or more tenants.
The newly proposed Article 4 Direction aims to widen this mandate to include all proposed HMOs, notably those with three to six bedrooms. This will be especially pertinent in particular wards of Scunthorpe and less so across the entirety of North Lincolnshire.
Changes will not affect existing small HMOs. Of the 206 recognised HMOs in North Lincolnshire, the majority have five or less bedrooms. An estimated 205 properties are suspected to be HMOs but await official confirmation. Among the areas most populated with HMOs are Crosby and Park and Town Ward with 136 confirmed HMOs and a suspected additional 160 properties.
The Labour opposition group leader, Len Foster, expressed his ‘absolute support’ for the initiative, albeit with reservations about the implementation timetable of Article 4. Darryl Southern, councillor for Frodingham, warned against prematurely associating HMOs with antisocial behaviour, citing his personal residency experience in such accommodations.
In a concluding statement, Waltham stressed that ‘Taking such measures is not a decision councils make casually – it’s seldom done and follows an extensive legal procedure. However, we won’t hesitate to intervene when the stability of family homes and communities are questionable.’
This article was adapted by The Lincoln Post from an original report by www.bbc.com.
