Investors looking to buy properties to be used as Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in Sefton in Merseyside may need to seek planning permission in the future. Sefton Council is proposing to implement a borough-wide Article 4 Direction to give local people more influence over properties used for HMOs.

It comes a couple of months after a similar order was issued for Aintree, with the council now seeking to apply it to the whole borough as residents have continued to raise concerns about HMOs. The council has also called for a nationwide directive to be enforced.

Councillor Marion Atkinson, leader of Sefton Council, says the action follows calls from other residents for it to apply where they live. “Since taking action across the borough, and more latterly in Aintree, we have seen a huge number of people come forward in support of what we have done. Residents in other parts of the borough are now calling for similar action, which is why we have decided to take this unusual step.”

She says the council isn’t against HMOs but wants locals to be happy. “HMOs do play a role in our community, and this move would not prevent an HMO from being created, instead it puts an extra check and balance in place by requiring planning permission so local people can have a say on any plans that are put forward.”

Calling for national action

She continues: “The key thing is that local people should have an input into what’s happening in their community, and we think this is something that should be tackled nationally, but, for the time being, this would be us as a council doing all what we can to listen to our residents.”

Article 4 Directions already apply in certain parts of Sefton, including Southport, Bootle, Seaforth, Litherland and Waterloo, and have done for some time. 

To put the order in place, evidence must demonstrate why it is required. In this case, it is felt that there is sufficient evidence, including:

• Impact on the character of the borough and quality of life for residents 
• The quality of the HMOs in areas of the borough
• The pressure concentrated numbers of HMOs may put on public services such as doctors, dentists and congestion on the roads.

“We know this is really important for residents, so we will use our urgency powers to take this to our next cabinet meeting in October,” says Councillor Atkinson. “This would very much be a pre-emptive move given the concerns of residents and I hope it reassures them we are looking to act in their best interests.”