Andy Burnham took aim at 'HMO Britain' during his Makerfield by-election victory speech
When the Prime Minister spoke about the unfairness of areas being turned into ‘HMO [Houses of Multiple Occupancy] Britain’, residents in the Netherfield area of Nottingham took more notice than others.
For them, the development of houses of multiple occupancy has quickly become a reality.
Permitted Development Rights allow houses to become small HMOs without planning permission, which has meant this area has become a hotspot, with accommodation for six, or seven people with additional permission, being built in a community full of families.
When one resident contacted the Labour Leader of Gedling Borough Council voicing their concerns, Councillor John Clarke said they shared their concerns but also blamed “clamour in the media” and “politicians” promoting “fear”.
A resident in the area spoke to GB News anonymously out of fear for their own safety, saying they feel like they’re being “surrounded” by the developments.
They said: “They started appearing in September last year and it's taken over my life in the way that I'm fearful.
“I've put up all these security cameras and I keep telling myself, I don't know who they might be, they might be lovely students, they might be professionals, they might be this or that, but there's something about being fearful in your own home.”
There’s concern in the area the properties could be used to house asylum seekers with the Government’s mission to stop the use of hotels.
The resident said: “How much have the developers spent to do them? They put investment in, they're not gonna let them sit, are they?
“£850, £750… if they’re not filled and they're just in it for the money, you'd take the government contract, wouldn't you?
“I'm not going to get mother and children in there, am I? Because it's one person per room.
“I try not to overthink it, but it doesn't matter. The fact is that something is happening that is giving me fear in my own house. If something makes you feel a certain way, it's a problem.”
The closeness of the community is felt just walking around, and their action against the developments is organised.
One local has set up a website which maps out which houses have been, are in the process of, or have permission to be developed.
For the resident who wished to remain anonymous, the area feels united about making a stand and not just moving away.
They added: “Next door said they might move and two doors down was saying she might move when we first heard about it. Now she's saying she’s not going to let them kick her out of the home she’s lived in for 30 years.
“I considered selling but this is my home, and I can't afford to move.”
Heinz and Marilyn Haverkamp have lived on Chandos Street for 52 years, but an HMO being built next door has damaged their property and left them fearful.
Heinz told GB News: “They've piled all the rubble up outside, and it's unimaginable how much rubble there is that's come out of one house.
“The dust, and the damage it’s caused - we’ve got cracked ceilings everywhere.”
Marilyn added: “We’ve got water all at the bottom of the stairs and water on the ceiling in the back kitchen.
“I suffer with my lungs, and I've had to have two emergency interventions because of the dust. It was unbelievable.”
Away from their own property, they are concerned about the impact of the developments on the area.
Heinz said: “We’re concerned about the community; it has changed so much it's unrecognisable.”
Residents have lived on the street for an average of 26 years, with the community made up of multiple generations.
Residents were quick to tell us their concerns about the safety of people in the area, the unavailability of parking to accommodate houses with possibly seven or more people in them, and the impact of already overflowing bins from developments that already have tenants.
She said: “I completely against it! They’re taking all these houses away that families could actually be in, instead of single people paying a rent which is extortionate.
Local resident, John Bannister, is angry at the lack of rules around the developments.
He told GB News: “Surely, there's got to be something where you can only have so many in a certain distance.
“There's three right next to each other! Surely, that can't be right?”
Another resident, Fiona Dracott, is concerned about the impact on a tight knit community.
She said: “For me, it's ruining our community. Yes, there is a need for housing, but there is not a need for six HMOs within 100 yards just on this part of the street.
“I’m really pleased my local councillor who lives on this road is trying to do something about it, but the problem is it needs to happen now.”
She added: “I live on my own in my house, I pay council tax for my house. A person who lives in an HMO does not pay individually it’s included in their rent.
“So if there’s seven people using the facilities, the amenities and the local environment, and I’m paying and they’re not, we need to make sure HMOs have to pay individually council tax so they’re paying into the community they’re in.
“That would definitely reduce the amount of HMOs in this particular area and the loss of affordable family homes.”
The local authority, Gedling Borough Council, is consulting on an Article 4 direction which would require planning permission for an HMO development, but enforcement will only come 12 months after its issued.
Local independent councillor, Russell Whiting, says he’s frustrated at the lack of power to stop them now.
He told GB News: “The fact that it can happen with no oversight from the council, with no say from residents, without even councillors like me being able to have a say in most cases, is incredibly frustrating because there's no accountability or democratic oversight of these things.
“They've got an Article 4 direction in Nottingham city, they've got that in other cities, but because we don't have that currently here in Gedling, developers can come in, buy our housing which is relatively cheap, and turn it into HMOs.
“The only way we can stop that is by introducing the directive and then rejecting it at the planning committee.
“Unfortunately, residents have discovered that when you get to the planning committee stage, lots of my fellow councillors are willing to allow these to go through.”
A Gedling Borough Council spokesperson told GB News: “The Council is monitoring the number of HMOs in individual wards across the borough.
“National planning guidance sets out that the use of Article 4 directions to remove national permitted development rights should be limited to situations where an Article 4 direction is necessary to protect local amenity or the well-being of the area and in all cases, be based on robust evidence, and apply to the smallest geographical area possible.
“Residents are encouraged to provide the Council with any evidence that would support the consideration of future Article 4 Directions in the borough.
“The Council is currently consulting on an Article 4 Direction within the Netherfield area which would remove permitted development rights to change the use of houses to small HMOs of up to 6 residents, meaning planning permission would be required.”
