Scottish Parliament to consider petition on Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs)

As many know, HMOs is a cause of major concern in the Marchmont and Sciennes Area. MSCC are involved in a Short Life Working Group set up through the South Central Neighbourhood Partnership by City of Edinburgh Council. The working group has highlighted the conflict through regulation between planning and licensing. This is a national problem and MSCC have also been cooperating with Sustainable Communities Scotland (Suscoms) on a petition to the Scottish Parliament (PE1261):

"Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to promote better regulation of houses in multiple occupation by (a) giving licensing authorities clear powers to refuse to grant HMO licences where this will affect the amenity of the local area or breach planning policy or the requirement for planning permission; (b) ensuring planning permission is a prior condition for all HMO licensing; and (c) introducing more rigorous enforcement of penalties for illegally operated HMOs including powers of closure and substantial financial penalties to contribute towards the cost of enforcement. "

The Petitions committee will consider this petition on Tuesday 6 October at 2pm. Anyone interested can book a place on the Petitions Committee from today (29 Sep 09) by e-mailing emailing sp.bookings@scottish.parliament.uk or contacting the visitor centre at 0131 348 5200. It will also be broadcast on the internet (www.holyrood.tv/committee.asp). Seats will be limited.

Further details on MSCC objectives on HMOs as background to this petition are available.