6 September 2010 Last updated at 09:30 ET

York residents concerns over students prompts review

Councillors in York are reviewing housing legislation after concerns about the number of students living in concentrated areas of the city.

The council is considering whether to change the rules governing planning permission for Houses in Multiple Occupancy (HMO).

The threshold for HMO planning permission is currently a property housing six or more non-related people.

Under the proposals this would be reduced to three people.

The plans will be considered at a meeting of the council's Local Development Framework Working Group on Monday.

Councillor Steve Galloway, executive member for city strategy, said concerns had been raised by some residents in the Hull Road, Fishergate and Headlington areas about the number of students living there in short-term let properties.

"Any house which has more than six people living in it requires planning permission and the suggestion is that this threshold is reduced from six to three.

'Diverse' distribution

"Some long-term residents say they have seen properties in their streets converted from family homes into short-term lets."

He added that some residents had complained about properties being left empty outside term time and issues with noise and rubbish.

The council will now decide whether to appoint officers to examine affected areas to establish if such a change is necessary.

Niall McTurk, chairman of York Residential Landlords Association, said: "Students across York are spread quite widely across the city.

"There isn't really a high concentration of students in any one area. It's quite diverse.

"Many students give a valuable contribution to their area and very few students cause problems. The vast majority respect their area and get on with their neighbours."

He told BBC Radio York that he did not believe landlords would be too badly affected if the rules changed as the number of properties may be restricted, but their value and rent charges were likely to increase.