Short-sighted government ministers have launched a plan to limit HMO’s to 10% in most of Belfast and up to 30% in certain concentrated areas.
Rather than addressing the issues over why HMO’s are situated in the areas they are found; they are tackling the apparent endemic social issues over-spilling from HMO’s through a new planning regime.
The largest indication that points towards the fact that people are actually CHOOSING to live in HMO’s lies in note 3 to the editors:
“Lifestyle choice and increases in house prices have led to a significant increase in multiple occupation. It tends to occur in larger and older properties closer to the city, eg South Belfast. Students, young singles and migrant workers are attracted to this market.”
So why not work with landlords to provide BETTER quality accomodation, self-regulation and clearer guidelines upfront then manage it through a bureacratic planning regime that could end up decreasing the value of HMO’s – and making them even MORE difficult to secure finance on?