Councils Fail To Overturn HMO Rules

Three councils have failed in High Court bid to quash rules that make it easier for landlords to set up houses in multiple occupation. Milton Keynes, Oxford and Newcastle brought a judicial review challenge to regulations that allow homes to be converted into HMOs without planning permission. The councils argued the government did not properly consult on the rules before introducing them on 1 October last year. But in the High Court yesterday Judge Sir Michael Harrison rejected the challenge, ruling that the consultation process was not ‘so unfair as to be unlawful’. He noted that the change in regulations followed a consultation by the Labour government on HMOs, and the coalition government carried out a smaller consultation with bodies such as the Local Government Association in 2010. All three councils responded to this, although they were not invited to do so. Read more on Inside Housing.