A council is seeking views on proposals which would give it greater control over the conversion of homes into Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
At present in North Tyneside, a house can be converted into a small HMO for between three and six people without the owner having to apply for planning permission, but the council is proposing to change this in selected areas.
If the proposals go ahead, anyone wanting to convert a house into a small HMO in those areas would first need to apply for planning permission.
The council says the proposals have been put forward because some areas already have concentrations of HMOs and a higher number of properties that could potentially be converted in future.
Requiring planning permission would mean it could look at each new proposal in context – including how many HMOs there already are nearby – and what impact another one could have on the surrounding area.
This would only affect future conversions, so a landlord currently owning a small HMO would not need to apply for planning permission because of the new rules.
The survey, on the council website, closes on October 22.
This article is taken from Landlord Today