Tighter controls on rented housing to start in 2027

Stricter planning controls on a city's houses in multiple occupation (HMO) will come in next year, despite calls for them to start immediately.

The current rules in Cambridge allow the creation of HMOs of up to six residents through permitted development.

All HMOs will have to seek planning permission for the change of status, regardless of size. The city council's cabinet approved the move, which will come into effect in 12 months' time.

Stephen Kelly, joint director of planning at the Labour-led council, told the cabinet that waiting to implement restrictions would help them avoid "potential claims for compensation".

There are nearly 1,000 licensed HMOs in Cambridge, which is cited as one of the most expensive places to live in the UK.

Objections to the number of HMOs include claims that areas end up with a lack of community due to a high turnover of tenants who do not stay for long periods of time.

Rosy Moore, deputy leader of the council, supported the proposal because it was "something that a lot of residents are concerned with" as family homes are bought and turned into properties for rent, with more people living in each property.

"However, I'd just like to note, considering some of the debate previously, that we do have a housing crisis in Cambridge and in Britain, and HMOs do provide vital help for some groups of people," she added.

Some campaigners had called for applications for HMO licences to be frozen immediately "to prevent a landgrab by developers", as reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Kelly told the cabinet other councils, such as Fenland District Council in Cambridgeshire, which had introduced an immediate direction had a "relatively low risk of compensation".

"We're not aware of places where you have this kind of extreme pressure on housing and therefore potential inflationary pressures on HMO values similar to Cambridge that have followed that route," he said.

The current Greater Cambridge Housing Strategy has acknowledged high prices to buy or rent in the area are "fuelled by high demand".

A six-week consultation on the plan will begin in November before cabinet's decision goes before the full council.

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