Consultation and engagement

Consultation on a new directive for houses in multiple occupation in Liverpool

Start date: 14th December 2020
End date: 19th February 2021

This consultation is on a new direction in respect of houses in multiple occupation in the Liverpool wards of Anfield, Central, Greenbank, Kensington and Fairfield, Picton, Princess Park, Riverside, Tuebrook and Stoneycroft and Wavertree Wards and parts of Kirkdale and Church Wards. View our ward map to see these areas.

What are we consulting on?

A number of residents, organisations and local councillors have raised concerns about the growth in the number of homes occupied by groups of single people referred to as houses in multiple occupation - HMOs.

When too many HMOs cluster together they can add pressure on local services and the environment, which has a detrimental effect on the lives of all local residents.

We undertook research to identify the areas where the number of HMOs negatively impacts or causes harm to residents. Having reviewed this research, the council has made an Article 4 Direction for Anfield, Central, Greenbank, Kensington and Fairfield, Picton, Princess Park, Riverside, Tuebrook and Stoneycroft and Wavertree Wards and parts of Kirkdale and Church Wards.

If confirmed, this direction will require property owners in these areas to apply for planning permission before they change the use of the property from a family home to a small HMO for up to six people. While considering planning permission applications, planning officers would look at whether an HMO is an appropriate development for the area, and if they do grant planning permission they can also set conditions on how an individual HMO should operate.

Documents we are consulting on

How to comment

We are now asking people to tell us whether they think the direction should come into force, which would happen on 10th April 2021 if the council decides to proceed with the proposal after the consultation period closes on Friday 19th February 2021.

Please comment using our online survey via the link below.

Comment on the proposed Direction

What happens to my views?

We have not asked for contact details as part of this survey, however tenancy information and postcode details will be used for analysing the results of the survey. Anonymised comments, or a summary of them, will be included in the consultation report given to the Council’s Cabinet and published on this website.

All comments will be kept solely for the purposes of this consultation and will be destroyed 12 months after it closes.

What happens next?

Consultation results will be reported to Cabinet which will consider them and decide whether or not to confirm the Article 4 Direction for Anfield, Central, Greenbank, Kensington and Fairfield, Picton, Princess Park, Riverside, Tuebrook and Stoneycroft and Wavertree Wards and parts of Kirkdale and Church Wards.

Further information

Any questions about this consultation can be emailed to housing.strategy@liverpool.gov.uk.