Local residents have consistently been calling for the use of planning legislation to control HMO’s in Reading. This is part of a wider picture as Reading’s Labour run council is determined to support good landlords, ensure decent homes for tenants and pleasant neighbourhoods for all. You can read more about what we plan to do elsewhere on my blog. However we are now at a stage where the formal consultation is going ahead for what called an ‘Article 4’ direction.
Credit to Jan Gavin who has backed residents in Redlands on this issue. I reproduce the start of her recent blog post below
“Following the introduction of new planning legislation relating to HMOs introduced in 2010 I raised concerns expressed to me by residents about concentrations of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) in Redlands.
In response to this, informal consultation, including public exhibitions and the opportunity to complete questionnaires, was carried out at the end of 2011 to seek residents’ views on the impact of houses in multiple occupation. The results of the informal consultation, plus other evidence, led to a report being put to Cabinet in March which resolved that, for a defined area covering parts of Katesgrove, Park and Redlands Wards, permitted development rights to convert from a dwelling house to a small HMO be removed.
The letter copied below is part of the formal process of notifying residents of the ‘Article 4 Direction’.
Dear Sir/Madam,
Notification of Article 4 Direction for removal of permitted development rights to convert from a dwellinghouse to a small house in multiple occupation.