Crackdown on HMOs approved by town hall bosses

A crackdown on houses of multiple occupations (HMOs) has been brought into force in Tameside – with one councillor describing it as a ‘war on slum landlords’.

Town hall bosses have approved an immediate Article 4 Direction, which effectively means all HMOs would require planning permission to operate. Currently, only HMOs housing seven or more people need planning permission.

The council says this is being done to step up efforts to ensure shared housing is safe, well-managed, and works for everyone.

Under the new rules, every HMO conversion will need planning permission, including small HMOs – which contain between three and six people. Tameside will be the second Greater Manchester authority to look to implement such action.

The idea behind this is to give the local authority greater control over where shared homes are developed and give residents and stakeholders a voice through the planning process.

Town hall bosses heard how this would give the council better control over room sizes, HMO location, parking spaces and potential impact on neighbours.

This move would help balance the need for affordable housing with the quality of life for residents, and ensure shared homes are safe and well-managed, council leader Coun Eleanor Wills explained. 

Coun Andrew McLaren, deputy leader for growth, housing and homelessness, was emotional after being heaped with praise for his work on this issue.

After attending a community meeting in Dukinfield about a controversial HMO the night before, he highlighted how this issue has divided communities in Tameside and how important it is to enforce tighter control.

“This goes into the essence as to why I entered politics,” Coun McLaren told the executive cabinet. “This is really important to me.

“This is about providing proper housing to our residents in Tameside. This is not about stigmatising residents.”

He went on to say how he had challenged locals who had shared strong political views on HMOs. 

Coun Stephen Homer added: “This is not about the demonisation of HMOs. This is a war on the slum landlords.”