Angry residents in Netherfield last night braved the rain so they could have their say at a public meeting over the number of Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMOs) in the town.
The meeting (March 3) was organised by local protest group Netherfield Against HMOs.
Many of those in attendance were calling on Gedling Borough Council to make a dramatic move by changing the planning rules that would help limit the number of HMOs.
At present landlords and property developers can to turn some smaller residential properties into HMOs without planning permission.
Only HMOs occupied by seven people or more currently require planning permission.
Now many of the residents now want Article 4 Direction introduced.
This is a change to the planning rules that would place restrictions on residential property conversions in areas which already have high levels of HMOs.
It would mean all HMO conversions would need planning approval if Article 4 Direction was implemented, giving the community an opportunity to oppose any HMO proposals during a consultation period.
The Article 4 Direction has already been introduced by Nottingham City Council after a large number of properties in Lenton and Hyson Green were converted to HMOs to help accommodate the city’s growing student population.
Broxtowe Borough Council are also now making moves to introduce the new rules.
Last night’s meeting at the town’s St George’s Church was organised after the council received a new application for a new HMO on Chandos Street for seven occupants.
Those in attendance last night voiced their fears about the rising number of HMOs citing a lack of parking, sewage problems and anti-social behaviour as reasons to be worried.
One woman told the room she was ‘terrified’ that her rented property would be soon be snapped up developers offering local landlords inflated prices for Netherfield houses they can turn into HMOs.
“What if my landlord gets a good offer and accepts? That’s it – I’m out on the street,” she said.
One man slammed HMO developers, saying they ‘lacked a moral compass’.
“They don’t even live round here.”
“How many [HMOs] is too many? You are soon going to have a lot of angry people in Netherfield if this continues.”
Another resident said the introduction of Article 4 Direction would upset the plans of developer Justin Ingrey, who applied for permission to create a HMO on Chandos Street.
He said: “If it was introduced then he’s had his day here and he’s not going to like it”
Gedling Borough Council’s head of development and place, Mike Avery, was in attendance and took questions on planning regulations from residents and promised to share concerns raised at the meeting with the council.
Local Gedling Borough councillors had been invited to the meeting but were attending a Full Council meeting on the latest budget.
Gedling MP Tom Randall was also invited but couldn’t attend due to a positive lateral flow test.
Mr Randall did publish a letter he had written to council leader John Clarke which asked for the Article 4 Direction to be introduced across the borough.
He wrote: “I understand developers are targeting the area, taking advantage of its proximity to Nottingham city centre and the Victorian housing stock, to convert even more in areas like Chandos Street.”
“Like many residents in Netherfield, I worry about how these short-term tenancies will change the Netherfield community.
“HMOs, by their very nature, have more occupants and increase the amount of traffic on our road as more cars park on the already congested streets. They also add more strain to our Victorian drainage system.”
He concluded: “On behalf of Netherfield residents, I ask you to support the continual improvement of the community by introducing an Article 4 Direction and restricting the increase in houses of multiple occupancy.”
