Calls for moratorium and a review of Council's Houses of Multiple Occupation policy
Aontú Ballyarnett representative Emmet Doyle has called for a moratorium and a review of Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMO) policy.
Aontú Ballyarnett representative Emmet Doyle has called for a moratorium and a review of Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMO) policy.
Mr Doyle’s remarks came following his revelation that fewer than 5% of applications to turn homes into HMO's were refused across Derry and Strabane.
"In the last five years, over 6,000 HMO applications have been made to Councils across the North, converting homes into HMOs and effectively taking a housing unit out of circulation for people to buy or rent for their families,” said Mr Doyle.
“In that same period, only 4.1% of applications have been refused, 18 out of 440 applications lodged with Derry and Strabane District Council,” he added.
“We lodged a Freedom of Information request to Belfast City Council who manage the HMO function regionally, and the figures are stark. The regional percentage of refusals is only 8%, which, in the middle of a housing crisis, is incentivising taking properties out of general circulation for profit.
“Whilst Council are reviewing their policy on the upper limit of HMO's in the District, we believe the proliferation of HMO applications should face a moratorium, as it is clear the application process is poised to approve more and more of these units, and the rate of refusal is far too low.
“We need to be retaining homes to house families, not converting them simply to maximise profit and giving the nod at Council to exacerbate the housing crisis."