Landlords blast plans to restrict the growth of student lets in York

Landlords in York are up in arms about plans to impose yet more red tape around their businesses. York Council is considering proposals to make all private landlords apply for planning permission if they wish to change a property into a house of multiple occupation (HMO). Landlords in the area say the council are imposing draconian measures to deal with a problem that doesn’t exist.

The plan to introduce the measures stems from complaints by local residents who claim the increase in houses of multiple occupation and in particularly student lets, is now starting to damage the community. They say problems such as increased noise, difficulty finding a parking space near to their homes and the increase in rubbish has all coincided with the increase of students in the area.

Private landlords with landlord insurance have now joined together to raise a legal riposte to the proposals, and have so far  managed to get over 500 signatures on a petition which they are going to use in the challenge. The petition claims that the council has sufficient powers already to tackle any problems caused by a tiny number of irresponsible landlords who are giving them all a bad name, and that there is no concrete evidence that houses of multiple occupations have a detrimental effect on the area. They also claim that the proposal will cause serious long term damage to the private rented sector and the economy of York. Most landlords feel they should not be punished for the few who are the root of the problem.

Niall McTurk, chairman of York Residential Landlords Association, stated “The association have instructed solicitors to start a legal challenge with the council. These “unfair” changes will not only affect students, but also people on benefits, who are going to find it even harder to get good rented accommodation. And of course they will harshly affect private landlords.”

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