Date: 09 February 2010 BROCKLEBANK BACKS HMOS PETITIONERS Mid Scotland and Fife Conservative MSP, Ted Brocklebank, has backed a petition in the Scottish Parliament to promote better regulation of houses in multiple occupation. Brought by Sustainable Communities Scotland and led by people from North East Fife, the petition seeks to give licensing authorities clear powers to refuse to grant HMO licenses where this will affect the amenity of a local area.
Giving evidence Mr Brocklebank said,
'I believe the petitioners from North East Fife were underwhelmed by the civil service response to the petition which as you know was supported by around forty community councils and other organisations.
'Specifically, while welcoming the proposals for planning consent to be a condition for issue of an HMO licence in the current Housing Bill, this on its own won’t be enough. Not all HMOs currently require planning consent so a planning policy to limit concentrations of HMOs will simply shift these pressures to housing types where planning permission is not required.
'Northern Ireland and England have introduced secondary legislation to bring all HMOs under planning controls. My constituents believe we need similar arrangements here in Scotland.
'It may be that the second part of the Housing Bill presently being drafted could also look at the problems caused by subdivision of rooms and relocation of traditionally stacked services, such as water services serving kitchens and bathrooms in tenements – usually to increase occupancy and maximise profits – which can lead to noise and flooding problems for downstairs neighbours.
'Secondly, there is still a significant group of unlicensed landlords operating with impunity under the present legislation. My constituents believe that civil rather than criminal proceedings against offending landlords would be a more effective approach.
'Finally, they believe the Bill should address the absence of powers to local authorities to close down non-compliant HMOs who continue to operate unlicensed premises when gas and other issues put tenants at risk.'
The Petitions Committee decided that the petition should be continued. | 
