13 September 2016
The University of East Anglia has agreed to work more closely with city councillors to improve relations between students and other residents, with students renting through the university’s ‘Home Let’ service set to be required to sign a ‘Good Neighbour’ charter.
At a recent meeting organised by Green councillor Denise Carlo, to which councillors from other parties were also invited, the university’s director of students agreed to hold quarterly meetings with ward councillors and student representatives, and to set up an email address where councillors can report any concerns.
Councillor Carlo said: “It was a very constructive meeting and I’m pleased that the university will be working more closely with ward councillors.
“There are a lot of issues around student housing in the city and it’s a complex issue. We want to see a package of measures to ensure quality of housing and quality of life is protected for all residents, student or not.
“We have been pushing for planning controls on houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), and we would also like to see compulsory licensing for HMOs to make sure housing is of an acceptable standard, as well as a commitment from the UEA to build more affordable student accommodation.”
The new agreement comes as Labour cabinet members prepare to discuss planning controls for HMOs at a meeting on Wednesday, where they are likely to agree to carry out a consultation. The proposed measures, known as an Article 4 Direction, would remove permitted development rights for new HMOs in two small areas of the city.
Green councillor Simeon Jackson, who helped persuade the council’s Sustainable Development Panel to support Article 4 earlier this year, said: “The planning system has an important role to play in creating balanced, sustainable communities, and requiring planning permission for new HMOs is a logical part of this.
“HMOs are a vital part of the housing mix, but there is evidence that there is a ‘tipping point’ where having lots of them in a neighbourhood causes problems with noise, parking and so on, as well as driving up rents. The high turnover of HMO tenants also makes it harder to maintain a sense of community.
“It will be important to review the direction once it is in place, and obviously we would want students and other residents to be part of that. Hopefully the cabinet will now start the process and not delay this any further.”
