New measures have been introduced to improve housing standards in Derby, particularly across wards where renters are facing challenges and inequalities.
At the forefront of these initiatives is the Safer Renting Derby project, a project set up in April 2023 and funded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) following the Housing Stock Condition Survey.
Following national and local evidence which highlighted that conditions in the private rented sector (PRS) are disproportionately worse than those in other housing sectors, the Safer Renting Derby Project aims to address housing inequalities in the city.
In a 2019 analysis of private sector housing conditions, it was highlighted that there are significant inequalities in the Abbey, Arboretum and Normanton wards, including fuel poverty, deprivation, and more. The Safer Renting Derby Project aims to improve PRS housing through education and enforcement, targeting these areas which have the poorest housing conditions in the city. Through this project, the Council will work with landlords to ensure they meet their responsibility to tenants, including tacking issues like damp and mould.
Another measure which is set to improve these wards is the recently approved Article 4 Direction, which comes into effect on 3 May 2025, giving the Council more planning powers to regulate Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). The move was implemented following a study into city wards where residents had raised concerns about the excessive number of shared properties in certain areas and the impacts on the environment that they create.
Councillor Shiraz Khan, Cabinet Member for Housing, Strategic Planning, and Regulatory Services spearheaded the Direction which was approved by Cabinet on October 9 following a nine-week public consultation which found that the majority of residents supported the proposal.
The Direction will require landlords and developers to obtain planning permission before converting homes into small HMOs. Larger HMOs already require planning permission. It will cover smaller properties in Derby, including all of Arboretum ward and parts of Abbey, Alvaston North, Darley, Mackworth, New Zealand, Normanton, Sinfin and Osmaston within the ring road.
Councillor Shiraz Khan, Cabinet Member for Housing, Strategic Planning and Regulatory Services, said:
I’m delighted that the Safer Renting Derby project and Article 4 Direction are being put in place for residents in Derby. As Cabinet member, I am committed to improving housing in Derby for both tenants and homeowners, and these measures are a step in the right direction towards improving housing in Derby.
I’m also pleased that the Article 4 Direction was approved by Cabinet. As chair of the Planning Committee in September 2022, I brought the issue forward after listening to residents’ concerns about the high level of HMOs in their communities, which can lead to various challenges such as anti-social behaviour, crime, parking issues, and strain on local services.
I worked hard on these measures in collaboration with various teams at Derby City Council to bring the Article 4 Direction to fruition. I would like to extend my thanks to the teams involved for their invaluable work. I will continue to look into ways of improving housing for all residents of Derby.
A landlord education event is scheduled to be held in late January 2025. With a focus on damp and mould, the event is aimed at landlords who may not have previously engaged with the Council.