A NEARLY decade-long campaign to limit the number of Homes in Multiple Occupation (HMO) in Coventry could reach a massive milestone next week.
Next Tuesday, Coventry City Council’s cabinet has been asked to recommend the authority’s members approve the confirmation of an Article 4 direction.
If confirmed by the full council, the direction would be set to come into force on September 30.
The rule change would prevent landlords and property developers from turning some residential homes into HMOs without full planning permission.
The ‘Article 4 direction’ would mean residential property conversions to HMOs in 11 wards – including Cheylesmore, Earlsdon, Foleshill, Sherbourne and Wainbody – would need planning approval.
Some say the conversion of so many homes to HMOs had helped contribute to a shortage of suitable houses for families, making it harder for people to get on the property ladder and damaging communities.
Others, however, see them as addressing a different and urgent housing need.
A consultation on the direction took place between September and November.
Coventry Action for Neighbourhoods has been campaigning to get the council to take on board the Article 4 direction for over eight years after seeing the impact it has had in other university cities.
Its chair Paul Maddocks said: “We are very happy the HMO article 4 direction will be discussed at the next Coventry City Council’s cabinet meeting.
“Nationally Article 4 Direction was set up to stop areas of the city from being taken over with HMOs which can change the makeup of the local neighbourhood.
“Over the many years, we have produced a weekly newsletter which is always sent to all standing Coventry City Councillors so they knw our thoughts and we are pleased they have listened.
“We hope the HMO Article 4 direction is properly funded and supported and that it will be adopted to all areas of the city not just the few which this first scheme is proposing.”
