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Houses in Multiple Occupation: Planning Consent
04 November 2025
Lead MP
Steve Yemm
Mansfield
Lab
Responding Minister
Samantha Dixon
Tags
Northern Ireland
Word Count: 8652
Other Contributors: 21
At a Glance
Steve Yemm raised concerns about houses in multiple occupation: planning consent in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
Simplify and strengthen the process for councils to use article 4 directions when there is clear local need; introduce a national framework to prevent over-concentration of HMOs in defined areas; properly resource local authorities to enforce existing rules.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
The rapid spread of HMOs and the growing frustration among local communities due to a lack of control over their impact. Over 20 HMOs in Northern Ireland were alleged not to have appropriate consent, highlighting enforcement issues.
Alex Ballinger
Lab
Halesowen
Raises concerns regarding parking, road safety, and antisocial behaviour caused by poorly planned HMOs. Asks the Government to review planning guidelines and introduce stronger licensing frameworks.
Carla Lockhart
DUP
Upper Bann
Stressed the importance of swift action by authorities when there are breaches within HMOs or other housing types.
Daniel Francis
Lab
Bexleyheath and Crayford
Noted concerns about landlords circumventing article 4 directions through the creation of charities and housing associations, suggesting a need for further reform.
David Simmonds
Con
Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner
Expressed sympathy for the Minister's position on HMOs and agreed with a need for more social housing. He supported Government provisions to improve licensing processes for HMOs while advocating for local authorities to have broader powers through streamlined article 4 directions implementation.
Al Pinkerton
LD
Surrey Heath
Highlighted the need for a licensing regime that allows local authorities to consider things such as parking and bin storage prior to an HMO licence being issued.
Gareth Snell
Lab/Co-op
Stoke-on-Trent Central
Welcomes the Minister to her new role.
Gideon Amos
LD
Taunton and Wellington
Acknowledges the impact of high concentrations of HMOs on local housing markets and community stability. Calls for more social homes to address the underlying issue.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Committed to securing swift enforcement for breaches, regardless of the party involved.
Jo Platt
Lab/Co-op
Leigh and Atherton
In Leigh, there are over 30 registered HMOs, leading to concerns about overcrowding and pressures on public services. A borough-wide article 4 direction is now in effect, but councils need national support for comprehensive licensing of HMOs.
John Slinger
Lab
Rugby
Campaigned on a petition regarding HMOs, highlighting concerns over litter, antisocial behaviour and the impact on house prices. Councillors in Rugby have taken up the cause.
Matt Rodda
Lab
Reading Central
Supports article 4 directions introduced by Reading borough council to address HMO issues such as antisocial behaviour, overflowing bins and parking problems.
Jonathan Brash
Lab
Hartlepool
Highlights the concerns about poorly managed HMOs and asks the Minister to review development corporations and reduce the 12-month notice period for article 4 directions to a matter of weeks.
Naushabah Khan
Lab
Gillingham and Rainham
In Gillingham, the rise of HMOs has been dramatic, with streets lined with family homes now dominated by HMO conversions. This trend is eroding social balance and creating challenges for communities.
Rachel Hopkins
Lab
Luton South and South Bedfordshire
Concerns around access to safe, good-quality and genuinely affordable housing are raised consistently. HMOs present difficult issues for tenants and wider communities if not properly licensed or managed. Councils recognise these issues but challenges arise when invoking article 4 directions.
Sam Carling
Lab
North West Cambridgeshire
HMO proliferation points to a bad housing market where people are forced to share due to high costs. Peterborough city council’s article 4 directions mandate developers to apply for full permission, but this varies by area leading to strain on public services.
Sarah Hall
Lab/Co-op
Warrington South
Residents in Warrington are experiencing rapid conversions of family homes into HMOs without proper consultation. This is causing worries about noise, parking, waste and antisocial behaviour, as well as concerns about young families being priced out.
Sarah Pochin
Reform
Runcorn and Helsby
Highlights the impact of HMOs on deprived communities and calls for better regulation to address concerns about housing asylum seekers.
Tristan Osborne
Lab
Chatham and Aylesford
There are 1,018 HMOs in the Medway council area with issues relating to serious hazards such as mould, fire safety, and electrical problems. The article 4 process needs strengthening and streamlining.
Uma Kumaran
Lab
Stratford and Bow
Agrees that we need to give councils more powers to tackle unlicensed HMOs, which cause people to live in unsanitary and unsafe conditions.
Wendy Morton
Con
Aldridge-Brownhills
Welcomes Walsall council's new article 4 direction but raises concerns about the conversion of family homes into HMOs and seeks reassurance from the Government on the use of HMOs for illegal migrants or asylum seekers.
Bath
Discusses the increase in HMOs due to student populations and the need for a planning system that helps reverse the loss of family homes. Asks the Government to create a new planning class for short-term rentals such as Airbnbs. Highlighted the issue of second homes and holiday lets in areas like Cornwall and the Lake District, where councils lack powers to control housing stock. She urged for legislation similar to Wales that requires planning permission changes for holiday let conversions.
Government Response
Samantha Dixon
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
Government Response
Congratulated the hon. Member for Mansfield on securing today’s debate. Acknowledged contributions from all Members and expressed appreciation for their insights regarding HMOs and planning permissions. Did not provide specific policy commitments or details.
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Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy
About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.