Planning permission is now needed to change a family house or flat into a shared letting property.

New national regulations that have just come in mean that anyone wanting to let their home to three or more unrelated people will need to apply for permission from the Council. Investment landlords looking to buy more student properties will also be affected.

The regulations will affect anyone who is planning to let their property to three or more people on a shared basis in the future, although will not affect the properties that are already let in this manner.

Head of Development Management in the Council’s Planning Service, Peter Ford said: "This is going to have a big impact in cities and towns across the country although it will not affect those properties that are already rented out in this way.

"The idea behind the regulations is to create a better balance between the needs of the residents who already live in a location, the landlords and the new tenants.”

Areas such as Mutley, Greenbank and Stonehouse have large number of sizeable homes that are already let to students or young workers, who cannot afford to or do not yet want to step onto the property ladder.

Peter said: "It is early days but we would like to reassure people that people who are already letting their house in this way will not need permission.

"For those people worried that this could affect their future plans, we are not saying that they will not get permission, just that the need to apply for it.”

Plymouth City Council is currently drawing up policy of how this will work in practice as part of the Local Development Framework. Possible issues that planning officers may need to consider is the impact a further rented property would have on parking in an area, for instance.

There are only a few limited exceptions:

• * Properties with up to six people living together as a household and receiving care
• * Properties occupied by a small religious group
• * Properties occupied by owners living with up to two lodgers
• * Properties let out or that have lodgers for a limited temporary period such as a short-term letting while the owner is away or short-term boarding accommodation for visiting students

Any letting property with between three and six occupiers and with shared communal facilities now fall within a new House in Multiple Occupation planning use category, and will now need planning permission from the Council if they are proposed to be occupied in this way.

Family dwellings which subdivided into bedsit-type accommodation, or separate flats, will continue to need planning permission. Property owners considering changing the use of their property in this way should contact the Council's Planning Service for further advice.

Council officers will be talking about some of the possible implications at the landlord’s forum over the next few weeks. The council will also be working with the University of Plymouth, lettings agencies and estate agencies to cascade information to potential landlords.

Plymouth City Council Press Releases, 23 April 2010