YORK residents are being asked to have their say on plans to allow a further 2,000 houses of multiple occupation in the city.

City of York Council has opened a ten-week consultation today (April 16) on a new licensing scheme to improve the quality of some of York’s less well-managed privately-rented homes.

Following approval by the Executive, the council is starting a consultation on extending licensing to a further 2,000, smaller Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). Views on this are being sought from tenants, landlords and partner organisations. Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) are shared homes, and include houses and flat shares, student homes and bedsits.

The council say that extending licensing arrangements for HMOs with three or four occupants would ensure a safer, better-managed and even more professionally run private rented sector in York. This work would focus on Hull Road, Guildhall, Clifton, Fishergate, Heworth, Micklegate, Osbaldwick and Derwent; and Fulford and Heslington wards. They say that landlords would benefit from a level playing field, and be offered additional training in property management which would improve the quality and value of the property and encourage tenants to stay longer.

Cllr Denise Craghill, Executive Member for Housing and Safer Communities, said: “York has a significant private rented sector which is home to a diverse mix of people. Many of these HMOs are in areas with more older properties where a wide range of low housing standards has been identified including rooms with no windows, over-crowding, inadequate shared facilities and very low energy efficiency standards.

“Our experience since the Government made licensing of HMOs with five or more occupants a legal requirement in 2018, is that this is a very effective way to improve standards and that voluntary schemes have not worked. I am very pleased we are consulting on extending this to the majority of other HMOs in the city.

“Licensing also provides a clear level playing field for good landlords as well as management training. It requires good standards of maintenance and helps to reduce any negative impacts of badly managed HMOs on nearby neighbours.”

The consultation will run until June 27 here.

Following the consultation, the findings will inform a final decision on an extended licensing scheme later this year.