Two County Durham town councils have backed a grassroots campaign to place stricter restrictions on the installation of HMOs (houses in multiple occupation).

Seaham Town Council and Peterlee Town Councils have confirmed they are backing calls for action on HMOs in East Durham - nine months after emboldened locals launched a campaign against new developments.

Currently, landlords or agents must apply for planning permission to convert homes into HMOs only if it is for more than six people.

However, in some cases, the council can require planning permission for HMOs with six or fewer occupants in areas with a high density of HMOs where there is evidence of a detrimental impact on residents. 

This is not yet the case in County Durham. Specific measures, known as Article Four directions, currently apply to Durham City and the surrounding neighbourhoods to reduce the rising number of student homes. 

Over the last nine months, the East Durham Communities Standing Together have been pushing for said Article our restrictions to be widened.

Seaham Town Council and Peterlee Town Council have now publicly backed the campaign.

A Peterlee Town Council spokesperson said: "Representatives of East Durham Communities Standing Together attended a Council meeting on 7th October to request that the Council support their campaign for the introduction of an Article 4 declaration covering the whole of the east coast area of County Durham to help manage homes of multiple occupation.

"The Council has supported the group by writing to Durham Country Council asking that it considers the introduction of an Article 4 declaration covering the whole of the east coast area of County Durham to help manage homes of multiple occupation."

For the East Durham Communities Standing Together Group, this news is very positive.

A spokesperson said: "We at East Durham Communities Standing together are delighted to have received such strong support from our Local Councils in support of Article 4 directions."

However, the county council has affirmed that they believe there is "no justification" to implement new restrictions. 

Cllr James Rowlandson, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for resources, investment, and assets, said: “All local authorities follow the nationally set legal framework in relation to the regulation of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO).

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“We can apply to Government to implement an Article 4 Direction only where there is evidence of a high number of HMOs and that they are having a detrimental impact on the community.

“However, in East Durham, there is a very low proportion of HMOs and there is no evidence that they are causing issues.

“We, therefore, cannot currently justify applying for an Article 4 Direction in this area in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework.”