The Community Partnership for Selly Oak (CP4SO) is a grouping of 14 residential and community groups spanning the whole of Selly Oak ward. CP4SO is asking members and member organizations including SPPOA to consider supporting the case for additional licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). Multi-occupied rental housing is clearly an important issue in areas neighbouring Selly Park, and particularly in Bournbrook.
Both the city council and the national government have made proposals for consultation:
Birmingham City Council is consulting on its proposal to extend additional licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation specifically in Selly Oak. You can see the council’s proposal by clicking on this link: https://www.birminghambeheard.org.uk/place/additional-hmo-licensing-in-selly-oak-ward
This consultation closes on 31stDecember 2016. Comments should be sent to email PRS@birmingham.gov.uk
The national government is consulting on its proposal for additional licensing of the private rented sector in England. You can see the government’s proposal at: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/LicensingHMOs
This consultation closes on 13th December 2016. Comments should be sent to HMOLicensing@communities.gsi.gov.uk
These are complementary proposals – one or both might go ahead.
SPPOA is not taking a stance on these proposals. However, the issues raised are clearly of interest to the residents of Selly Park, and the SPPOA committee therefore invites members to make individual representations as they see fit.
CP4SO has proposed two templates (below) as a basis for individuals to support additional licensing, but of course the templates can be modified or not used at all. The first template is for the council and the second for the national government.
Support for Additional Licensing in Selly Oak Ward
I am writing to support the introduction of Additional Licensing for Houses in Multiple Occupation in the Selly Oak Ward. There is a strong case for properties rented by more than three unrelated people, regardless of the number of floors occupied, to be licensed. This is for the following reasons:
- The extensive development of poorly managed and maintained HMOs in Selly Oak generally and especially in Bournbrook have a damaging effect on the neighbourhoods’ morale and social cohesion
- Poor housing and maintenance cause health problems not only for tenants but also for neighbours.
- Breaches of planning controls by landlords are frequently undertaken by landlords seeking to exploit their properties to the maximum possible. Such breaches constitute an overt and offensive flouting of the rules which is quickly picked up as an example by other landlords
- Inadequate supervision of building work has led to poor quality construction and insulation of properties.
- Roads are frequently used by builders as places to store building materials, obstructing traffic flow and blocking street drains.
- Waste produced by landlords and multiple tenants often overflows bins or is placed directly in the street causing unpleasantness for neighbours and costs to public services.
- Licensing of properties will ensure the identities of the owners are disclosed and that builders will be less able to use illegal workers.
Additional licensing should be introduced urgently in Selly Oak Ward.
Send to
Consultation closes 31st December 2016
Kind Regards
Maggie Gough, Chair, Selly Park Property Owners’ Association