Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the powers given to local authorities to regulate houses of multiple occupancy within the planning system.

Under a national permitted development right, a private house is able to change use to a House in Multiple Occupation for up to six people sharing facilities without the need for a planning application. Change of use to a larger House in Multiple Occupation requires an application for planning permission.

Where there is sufficient evidence of the need to protect local amenities or the well-being of the area, a local planning authority may withdraw a permitted development right using an Article 4 direction. This would mean any change of use to a House in Multiple Occupation would require an application for planning permission.

We believe this strikes the right balance between allowing individuals to decide how best to use their property, with appropriate safeguards to address localised concerns.