Gloucester City Council Seeks to Limit Shared Housing Units

Gloucester City Council has stated its intention to reduce the quantity of shared residences within the city. The council estimates that nearly 500 Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMOs) exist across the city, primarily clustered in specific districts like Barton and Tredworth, and Kingsholm and Wotton. The council asserted that a significant presence of HMOs contributes to problems with waste disposal, vehicle parking, and diminishes local community cohesion. The council is preparing to petition the government for enhanced authority to exert more stringent oversight on the emergence of new shared dwellings throughout the city. Jeremy Hilton, the Liberal Democrat leader of Gloucester City Council, indicated that difficulties are arising from the volume of landlords acquiring properties. He further commented, “We’ve got family homes that have been bought up by absentee buy-to-let landlords who really don’t care much about what impact they have on the community, all they’re interested in is maximising their money.” Hilton also observed, “It’s getting to the point where certain streets are overcrowded, there’s issues with too many cars and it just changes the nature of the whole area.” Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMOs) are formally defined as residences where at least three individuals from separate families cohabit. Presently, landlords are only mandated to obtain licences for HMOs housing over five occupants, and planning permission is required for those accommodating more than seven. The council intends to submit an application to the central government for an Article 4 Directive. This directive would necessitate landlords in specified city zones to seek licences and planning permission for properties with three or more tenants. Furthermore, this modification would empower the council to cap the proportion of HMOs at under 10% within any 100-metre (328ft) radius. Cheltenham Borough Council implemented an Article 4 Directive in the St Paul’s district of the town in 2020. Flo Clucas, Cabinet Member for Housing and Customer Services, commented that these provisions have yielded a tangible improvement. She elaborated, “Waste collection is a big issue for most families, and that happens much better now.” Clucas also stated, “You don’t have people now, students in particular, parking one after the other outside houses leaving no space for anyone else.” She concluded, “And because of that the community is building, it’s coming together, it’s doing things, which is really great.”