COUNCILLORS have been urged to tighten the rules on converting family homes into shared houses.

The draft Local Plan sets out how many new homes York needs between now and 2032, and earmarks the land they should be built on.

A fresh version was debated by councillors on the at the Local Plan Working Group for the first time on Monday, but one councillor has warned against letting the much-needed new homes be converted into Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMOs).

Cllr Mark Warters, who represents Osbaldwick, said that unless the city tightened HMO licensing rules, as much as 20 per cent of the new housing could disappear “just like that”.

He called for a review of the rules and the thresholds for how many HMOs are allowed in certain areas, and said the draft plan should take account of the number of student accommodation complexes built in recent years or under construction.

Labour councillor David Levene, who represents the student housing hot-spot of Hull Road, backed the calls for a review “at the appropriate time” but said his biggest concern over the plan was the risk of missing a key government deadline next year.

Other councillors, including chairman Nigel Ayre and Green leader Andy D’Agorne, said students’ housing needs should be taken into account.

Council leader David Carr has already backed calls for HMO licensing to be extended to smaller shared houses - including those of less than three storeys. He said he still supported that plan, but would need to see evidence after about a year before thinking about wider changes.

If the availability of private halls of residence or student accommodation blocks changes the way York students live, that could affect demand for rented homes, he said. The market may deal with that change itself, he said, or it could lead to the council considering a change.

Planning officers confirmed the 841 homes a year the draft plan says are needed will include purpose-built student homes.

Once the number of new homes built and planning permissions given since 2012 is taken into account, the annual housing need for York is around 550 a year.