Portsmouth Councillors Reassess HMO Regulations
Portsmouth councillors, planning officials, re-examine the city’s HMO approach—regulations govern, concerns mount in local quarters. A Planning Policy Cabinet meeting, where current rules and decision processes (for HMO approvals) align, saw detailed scrutiny.
Current Regulations and Community Impact
The policy—set in 2012—limits HMOs to 10% within a 50‐meter ring; this rule, embedded in the council Local Plan, awaits further review. Some councillors, residents’ worries (overcrowding, parking, pressures) prompting, push a reduction to 5%. Evidence, local and substantial, must undergird any shift, the proposal contends.
Legal Considerations
A recent legal review, its analysis precise, flags that a 5% cap might weaken the council’s position in the Local Plan review. Significant local support must, as argued, justify such a change; legal requirements insist on rigorous backing.
Concerns Over HMO Management
Debate, centered on an outdated citywide HMO register and affordability gaps (compared with flats), persists. An official, tasked with database updates, clarifies: not all shared housing counts as an HMO—control thus remains constrained. HMOs, seen as a housing alternative with cost benefits, shelter vulnerable residents and assist those nearing homelessness.
Summary
Portsmouth’s council reconsiders HMO rules. Resident worries, legal appraisals, and housing concerns converge as the review unfolds. The discussions may prompt major shifts in HMO management that affect both investors and future tenants.
