Housing and Planning Minister Caroline Flint released a new report by ECOTEC, that aims to identify ways to help councils manage high concentrations of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
'Studentification' of university towns has proved to be a real concern, especially during the summer months when neighbourhoods are left dormant because too many HMOs in one area are rented to groups of students.
The report, based on independent research, sets out a series of measures that could tackle and stop the complex causes and symptoms of concentrated student neighbourhoods:
Housing and Planning Minister, Caroline Flint said:
"It is not acceptable that current rental practices allow unplanned student enclaves to evolve to such an extent that local communities are left living as ghost towns following the summer student exodus.
"This report has identified a series of proven steps councils and universities can take to reduce the dramatic effects of 'studentification' where HMOs cluster too closely together.
"I also want to consider further how the planning proposals might help councils change term time only towns into properly planned towns that blend the student populations into well mixed neighbourhoods that are alive all year round."
There are clear economic benefits from student populations. They make a significant contribution to sustaining and regenerating communities. But their dramatic growth in recent years has seen this type of housing problem increase because students typically group together to rent properties.
An over concentration of houses of multiple occupation in one area can have a negative impact on the neighbourhood and local public services. Student turnover is typically high, 52% in Leeds for example, which can affect the sense of community as increasingly student landlords opt to concentrate properties ever closer together in university towns.
Cities including Liverpool, Loughborough, Leicester Nottingham, Southampton and Bristol have reported more empty properties during the summer - meaning shops, businesses, community facilities and pubs simply close down creating 'ghost towns'.
The ECOTEC report is part of wider ongoing work, including the independent review of the private rented sector, which is focusing on improving overall standards in the private rented sector and the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants. The findings of this report will be taken forward for further consultation that could lead to legislative changes.
