LANDLORDS are fighting a council proposal to stop the further ‘studentification’ of the neighbourhood surrounding the University of Chester.
Cheshire West and Chester Council wants to restrict the spread of shared housing in the Garden Quarter by requiring planning permission before a house can be converted from a family home into a house of multiple occupancy (HMO).
However, a national landlords’ organisation representing local landlords is warning that restricting the housing supply will lead to an increase in rents.
Alan Ward, chairman of the Residential Landlords Association, said: “An adequate supply of shared accommodation is required to house the increasing number of young professionals, such as nurses, for whom home ownership is simply unaffordable.
“Restricting the supply of such accommodation in the Garden Quarter of Chester will result in increased rents and will restrict the ability of young people to choose where they want to live. They may now be forced to go to other areas which are more suited for family or elderly accommodation and this could cause some reaction from local communities.
“The RLA is so concerned about the increasing use of these new powers, called Article 4 Directions, that it has referred 19 councils to the Department for Communities and Local Government to challenge their validity. Councils already have powers to deal with the social problems in neighbourhoods and they should exercise these rather than make life difficult for young people.”
A council spokesman said: “We are urging anyone who would like to have their say on this proposal to do so before the consultation period ends on August 31. All comments will be taken into account when a decision is taken.”
