Multiple Occupation – Parliamentary Written Answer

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assistance his Department makes available to local authorities seeking to return houses in multiple occupation to single units.
Grant Shapps: The overwhelming majority of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) are privately owned—particularly those which might be suitable for conversion to family housing. It is for the owner of a privately rented HMO to decide whether to convert their property back into a single unit suitable for a family. If the property is well maintained, well managed, and has any necessary planning consents, then the local authority has no powers to seek a change of use. Generally, a change of use from a small HMO to a family house does not require an application for planning permission unless there are local concerns about such development and the local authority have made an Article 4 direction requiring planning applications for such development. Should a landlord wish to convert a larger HMO to a family house then this will require a planning application if the local authority considers this would be a material change of use.