News / Housing
Consultation launched in council crackdown on shared houses
The public is being consulted on HMO restrictions in several Bristol neighbourhoods in a bid to stop the tide of family homes becoming shared houses.
The potential extra rules for landlords would make converting homes into houses in multiple occupation much more difficult to do so.
New “Article Four” directions would strip away permitted development rights.
This means that landlords would have to apply to Bristol City Council for planning permission in order to convert a home into a small HMO, shared between three and six unrelated tenants.
The changes under consultation aim to give council planners more control over the proliferating spread of HMOs to suburbs across Bristol.
Article Four directions already exist in parts of the city with lots of students, like Clifton and Redland, but could include new areas from 2027.
Maps show the areas affected by proposed changes to the HMO rules – image: Bristol City Council
In consultation documents, a council spokesperson said: “New restrictions on permitted development, known as Article Four directions, have been made for parts of Brislington, Frome Vale, Purdown, Southmead and Horfield, St George and Westbury Park.
“If the new Article Four directions are confirmed, from January 1, 2027, you’ll need planning permission for a material change of use from a dwelling house (Use Class C3) to a small house in multiple occupation (Use Class C4) in these areas.
“We’ll take into account all comments made when deciding whether to confirm the new Article Four directions.
“They can’t take effect until we’ve confirmed them. If we confirm them, the new Article Four directions will take effect on January 1, 2027. Until then, normal permitted development rights will apply.”
The University of Bristol’s new Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus aims to bring together “world-class education and research, industry expertise and civic organisations” – image: Temple Quarter
Under national rules, landlords can usually convert a house into a small HMO without applying for planning permission.
But council planners believe too many HMOs can lead to harmful impacts, such as parking pressures, problems with bins, and a decline in social cohesion too.
Changing a house to an HMO with more than six people already requires planning permission.
The rise in the number of HMOs is linked to Bristol’s universities expanding.
With the University of Bristol’s new Enterprise Campus set to open behind Temple Meads train station, some areas like Knowle — which currently have few HMOs — could see an influx of conversions.
The last major review of Article Four areas took place five years ago, according to Simone Wilding, the council’s head of planning.
And since then, councillors have raised concerns about rising HMO numbers in their areas.
On the other hand, HMOs can provide much cheaper housing for students and young professionals than living alone in separate flats.
Alex Seabrook is a local democracy reporter for Bristol
Main photo: Martin Booth
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