Landlords will no longer be able to convert properties into shared rental accommodation without planning permission, following new rules announced this week.

The changes, which will come into effect in April, mean that landlords who want to convert family homes into Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) will now have to apply for planning permission from their local authority. The moves come after a concerted lobbying campaign by residents’ groups nationwide, which included the Manchester-based Withington Civic Society which covers a part of the Burnage Ward.

Lib Dem MP, John Leech, who backed the residents’ groups in their campaign, commented“These changes will help residents’ groups to maintain a sense of community, which is sometimes lost with a spread of shared rental properties. They should also help to ensure that students don’t fall victim to rogue landlords, as there will be more checks and balances in place to make sure that work done to properties to convert them to student houses is of a suitable standard.”

Burnage Ward Councillor, and Liberal Democrat Housing Spokesperson, Cllr Iain Donaldson stated that “Two years ago John Leech MP and Roger Smith, Chair of the Withington Civic Society met the then-Housing Minister, Iain Wright, firstly in Westminster and then in Withington, to lobby for a legal requirement for planning permission to be sought for all conversions to Houses in Multiple Occupation.”

“The excellent campaigning by local residents to get these planning rules changed has received the full support of Liberal Democrat Councillors and John Leech MP. We are extremely pleased by today’s ruling. It’s now essential that Manchester City Council incorporates these changes into their Core Planning Strategy, which they are preparing at the moment.”