Councillors have called for better communication with the public around the controversial increase in HMOs across County Durham. 

The rise in family homes being converted into Homes in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) has led to local discontent and created unbalanced communities, council officials have been warned. 

Housing campaigners have recently urged the local authority to introduce new regulations to prevent the rising number of HMOs in East Durham. 

Current planning rules mean that planning permission for an HMO is only required when it will house more than five people. Specific measures, known as article four directions, currently apply to Durham City and the surrounding neighbourhoods to reduce the rising number of student homes. 

In July, opposition councillors voted to defer approving the council’s Housing Strategy after pleading for greater clarity over its HMO regulations. 

Debating the issue at a scrutiny meeting this week, councillor Rob Crute urged the council to understand the scale of the issue. 

He said: “We need to have something in there that recognises local concerns about HMOs, which might include some form of engagement or consultation with our residents to gauge the extent of the issues and identify any areas of concern.”

The East Durham Labour member said there is often confusion among residents about the council’s response to their concerns around the rising number of converted homes. 

He added: “It looks as though there’s a two-tier system where the council is focusing article four directions on one part of the county and not the other. 

“We have to clear up this confusion and cut through the mess and fog. The only we’re going to do that is a consultation with communities and stakeholders. We need to recognise the community's concerns and do something about it.”

Councillor Kevin Shaw said potential future family homes are being replaced by HMOs. 

Recommended reading: 

Subscribe to The Northern Echo now.

The member for Dawdon said: “The amount of planning applications for HMOs that come in front of us is huge. They’re catering for the needs of the student population in Durham City but causing massive problems for communities. 

“In the former mining communities, houses are being bought up and converted because of their low purchase cost. We need our housing strategy to identify and address how to deal with it going forward.”

The committee’s concerns form part of further feedback on the council’s housing strategy, which will return to councillors for a vote later this year.