Oxford ‘quick fix’ HMOs criticised amid possible new influx

David Henwood, leader of the Independent Oxford Alliance Group, has said that houses of multiple occupation (HMOs) are “not a long-term solution” to the city’s housing crisis.

He added that they can place pressure on public infrastructure when grouped in areas in terms of parking, waste collection, local services and community cohesion.

READ MORE: Fears as unbuilt pub site in 1,500-home development for sale

However, leader of Oxford City Council Susan Brown said the local authority has a policy of restricting the overall number of HMOs in a given area and said they provide “relatively cheap accommodation” in a city where housing is expensive.

Their comments come after at least 14 applications were submitted to the city council in May for properties to become HMOs, large HMOs, or for retrospective approval to confirm use as a HMO.

David Henwood, Oxfordshire county and Oxford city councillor (Image: Ed Nix)

This includes 47 Hawthorn Avenue (26/01209/FUL), Fern Hill (26/01202/FUL), 1 Benson Road (26/01184/FUL), 11 Broadhead Place (26/01174/FUL), 32 Oxford Road (26/01076/CEU), 60 Wolsey Road (26/01069/FUL) and 12 Norham Road (26/01066/VAR).

In addition there are applications in for 43 Sandy Lane (26/01053/FUL), 57 Magdalen Road (26/01028/FUL), 31 Old Marston Road (26/01027/FUL), 245 London Road (26/00919/FUL), 15 Salford Road (26/00923/FUL), 11 Chatham Road (26/00889/CEU) and 5 Ridgefield Road (26/00849/CEU).

Mr Henwood admitted that HMOs have a “clear role to play in Oxford’s housing market” and said he understood why more applications are moving forward.

Hawthorn Avenue, Oxford, where a HMO application has been submitted (Image: Google Maps)

“However, HMOs are not a long-term solution to Oxford’s housing crisis in themselves,” he said.

Nor are they relatively cheap, Mr Henwood added, stating that the average rent is roughly between £750 and £950 per room, per month, in Oxford, higher than the national average of £500 to £650.

He said there needs to be more of a focus on “quality over quantity”.

Mr Henwood explained: “Too often, councils rely on HMOs as a quick fix while avoiding the bigger issue of delivering genuinely affordable homes and the infrastructure needed to support growing communities.”

Sandy Lane, Oxford, where a HMO application has been submitted (Image: Googe Maps)

Ms Brown said this is a priority for the current administration.

She said: “As a Labour city council our focus is on building more affordable housing such as council housing and shared ownership but also exploring lower cost rental.

“We are the only council in the country to regulate all private rented housing in the city as well as HMOs to drive up standards in the private rented sector.”

City council leader Susan Brown (Image: Oxford City Council)

According to Mr Henwood there are around 4,400 HMOs in Oxford compared to more than 30,000 private rented properties but that the number of the former may grow if licensing fees (charges levied by local councils on private landlords to legally rent out properties) aren’t soon amended.

READ MORE: Council statement after 1,000 objections to Oxfordshire chicken farm vanish

He said: “A HMO containing four individual flats could see licensing costs work out at around £190 per unit, while a privately rented one-bedroom flat can face selective licensing costs of more than £850.

“That imbalance is one reason we are seeing more HMOs coming forward, while smaller private rentals become increasingly expensive to operate.”

“This model now needs serious review,” he added, before suggesting that private landlord licensing fees are brought closer to HMO costs on a per-bedroom basis.