Newcastle City Council is proposing new regulations which would require planning permission for all new Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs) – homes shared by three or more people. The changes would make it extremely difficult for landlords to offer shared homes for rent.
The NLA argues it would have a devastating effect on the amount of shared housing available in the Newcastle area and lead to a decline in the supply of good quality affordable accommodation, on which young professionals, those on low incomes and students rely.
The NLA is calling on landlords and tenants in Newcastle to join a campaign to oppose this proposal, by sending an e-letter to their local MP through the NLA website.
Commenting, David Salusbury, chairman, National Landlords Association, said: “Like many other cities across the country, Newcastle has a lack of good-quality affordable housing. These latest proposals by the City Council will only reduce supply still further.
“Many young professionals struggling to get on the property ladder, students at Newcastle’s universities and people on low income rely on rented accommodation. These proposed changes will make it harder for them to find a home.
“We are calling on landlords and tenants in Newcastle to oppose these changes by joining our web-based campaign, and lobbying their local MP to abandon these regulations.”
