Walsall councillors have approved measures to review and potentially expand licensing controls on Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs) across the borough. The Reform cabinet members, Councillor Stuart Chapman and Councillor Peter Harrison, submitted a Notice of Motion advocating adjustments to the planning and enforcement processes related to HMOs.
Presently, an additional HMO licensing scheme is active in four wards: Palfrey and the Delves, St Matthew’s, Paddock, and Pleck. The council has now agreed to assess the remaining wards, beginning with Willenhall, Darlaston South, and Bentley and Darlaston North, to determine if further additional licensing would be beneficial.
Council officers have been tasked with reporting back their findings within eight weeks. Furthermore, councillors approved a protocol for visiting all properties with confirmed unauthorised HMOs and pledged to contact complainants within ten working days after visits to inform them of any follow-up actions.
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It was reaffirmed that all planning applications concerning HMOs will continue to be decided by the planning committee until October of this year. After that, due to the Labour government’s upcoming planning reforms, decisions regarding HMOs will most likely shift from committee members to council officers.
All councillors who spoke on the motion voiced their support. Labour councillor Simran Cheema, representing Willenhall, highlighted local concerns: “Willenhall is increasingly being seen as the HMO capital of Walsall. These properties affect neighbours and the wider community, and there is frustration over the slow response time from planning enforcement.”
Conservative group leader Councillor Adrian Andrew acknowledged the role HMOs play in housing but criticised poorly managed HMOs, stating they are changing the character of communities and threatening the green belt as family houses are converted.
Councillor Aftab Nawaz, leader of Walsall Community Independents (WCI), spoke of issues in St Matthew’s ward, including waste management failures and antisocial behaviour linked to HMOs. He also expressed concern about the forthcoming shift of planning decisions from elected members to officers, describing it as a step backward that diminishes public representation.
Councillor Khizar Hussain (WCI), who previously questioned limits on HMO numbers in heavily affected areas, emphasised the devastation caused by the high concentration of HMOs in Pleck and St Matthew’s wards. Councillor Hajran Bashir (WCI) echoed similar sentiments regarding Palfrey and the Delves, calling for greater landlord accountability amid ongoing fly-tipping problems.
Reform councillor Peter Burton referred to Darlaston as the “HMO unlicensed capital of England,” underscoring the problem of unlicensed HMOs and inadequate management. He commended the motion but called for stronger prosecution actions against unlicensed HMOs.
“HMOs do have a role to play within the housing sector, but HMOs that are managed in such an appalling way across this borough are changing our communities.”
- Councillor Adrian Andrew, Conservative group leader
This review represents a significant step in seeking better regulation of HMOs in Walsall, aiming to balance housing needs with the well-being of local communities.