The British Property Federation has expressed dismay at Grant Shapps' decision to rule out overturning a law requiring planning permission for landlords renting a home to three or more unrelated people. Rules around houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) were widened under Labour in a move heavily criticised by landlords, the National Union of Students and the Conservatives themselves. In opposition, Grant Shapps said: "While councils need powers to tackle the excesses of slum landlords, this is a state sledgehammer to crack a nut."Labour have already kicked the housing market by imposing the red tape of Home Information Packs. Now they want to cripple the fragile market with even more regulation. Tenants will lose out, as these new costs will reduce the supply of housing and drive up rents.” He added: “Labour are giving even more powers for town hall snoopers to barge into people’s bedrooms and rifle through their underwear drawers.” Shapps now says he was keen to have HMO controls in areas with studentification problems, but wanted to review the current legislation to ensure it is not too overarching and leading to problems in areas that don’t have those issues. An HMO for planning purposes will be defined as a house occupied by three or more unrelated sharers. Planning permission might be required where a house previously occupied by a family is rented out to three or more unrelated sharers. Read the full story on the 24dash website.
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