Extra controls on houses in multiple occupation planned to help prevent problem HMO hot spots in Sunderland

Sunderland City Council has drafted new planning guidance for HMOs and a report on the measures is due at next week’s cabinet meeting.

HMOs are generally defined as three or more people, who do not form one household, living together.

The report to city leaders outlines new rules to help avoid over concentrations of the property types and residents becoming ‘sandwiched’ by them.

Latest figures suggest Sunderland has 1,200 HMOs with the majority based in the Barnes, Hendon, Millfield, St Michael’s and St Peter’s wards.

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The council already has planning controls in place limiting property conversions to HMOs in certain areas.

While recognising the part HMOs can play in providing ‘affordable and flexible’ housing in the private rented market, especially for younger people, the report notes the ‘imbalances’ they can create.

City housing matters are overseen by the council’s cabinet member for Dynamic City, Cllr Rebecca Atkinson.

She said: “The city’s stock of HMOs is contributing to meeting housing needs, yet increasing numbers of multiple occupancy properties have the potential to create harmful impacts.

“Concentrations within neighbourhoods can lead to imbalanced and unsustainable communities and can damage the residential amenity and character of surrounding areas.

“This council recognises the issues HMOs can create and that’s why we have prepared this draft.

“I shall be recommending to my cabinet colleagues that we move to public consultation.”

If approved by cabinet, the draft Homes In Multiple Occupation Supplementary Planning Document would move to a four-week public consultation.

Subject to this process, the new guidance could be adopted later this year.

Specific measures in the plan aim to prevent residential properties having two HMOs as adjoining neighbouring properties.

The changes would also prevent planning permission in cases where HMO dwellings exceed 10% of the total number of residential properties in a street or are within a radius of 100 metres of the applicant’s site.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the council’s cabinet and other committees have been meeting remotely.

The HMO plans will be discussed at a virtual cabinet meeting on Tuesday, September 15 with the meeting starting at 10am.

To watch live on YouTube, visit: https://youtu.be/sPcko6P59VA

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