KET8 Houses in Multiple Occupation
It is recognised that HMOs play a key role in providing accommodation for students, but they also provide homes for those on lower incomes and those who are not in a position to rent or own their own individual home. However, an overconcentration in an area can lead to unacceptable impacts on neighbouring amenity which is considered harmful to local communities.
Therefore, in striking a balance to ensure that housing need is met and to ensure that those HMOs which are subject to planning control (currently 7+ occupants) the KNP can create a policy to legislate for the overall number and concentration in an area to encourage a more even distribution across the area.
This policy area could also provide an appropriate evidence base for a future request to NNC for the inclusion of an Article 4 Direction, such as that introduced in in Corby, to bring all HMO applications into the planning regime, irrespective of the number of occupants.