More Protection For Family Homes

Your Lib Dem run council made the decision in December to implement new legislation which will protect family homes across eight areas of the city, including Ouseburn Ward. The new rules will mean that landlords must seek planning permission to convert family homes into Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs) with up to 6 tenants within these designated areas. HMOs with 7 or more tenants will continue to require planning permission no matter where they are in the city. In Ouseburn Ward, all of Heaton Neighbourhood within the ward will be covered and much of Shieldfield is also included.

Ouseburn Councillor Gareth Cooper said: "We have had a long term aim to try and re-balance some neighbourhoods in the city, which have moved away from traditional family housing. This move will finally give us greater local powers to control this change in our neighbourhoods."