10:30am Sunday 14th March 2010
COMMUNITY leaders today urged residents to back a consultation that will help a council decide how it tackles problem bedsits.
Weymouth and Portland Borough Council is asking for views so it can make decisions on how it handles the growing demand for private rented accommodation and regulate houses of multiple occupancy (HMOs).
A draft Private Rented Sector housing policy has been drawn up and the council is now looking to the public to comment on its recommendations.
One of the main aims of the policy is to encourage landlords to provide good quality, well-managed housing.
The deadline for returned questionnaires has just passed but the council has decided to extend it by a week to ensure all views are heard.
Problems linked to HMOs, which include anti-social behaviour and litter, have been one of the main concerns of people living in Weymouth’s Park District where a lot of accommodation has been turned into bedsits.
Dave Burchill has led the area’s Partners and Communities Together (Pact) panel and is intending to stand down as chairman.
He said: “People have been complaining about some of the HMOs for the three years I have been chairman.
“It’s not an issue that can be tackled quickly but we are now starting to see some action.
“Progress has been made with both the council and our MP Jim Knight making real efforts to ease the plight of residents affected by badly run properties.”
The questionnaire focuses on various issues including whether residents would support a local lettings agency to work with private sector landlords. People are also asked if they would back the council taking a more proactive approach to licensing HMOs.
Waterside Weymouth Community Forum chairman Ken Whatley said: “An awful lot of work has been done on this already and it’s up to residents now to share their views.
“The council do have powers but have said they have no funds to enforce them. It’s got to a stage now where authorities have to take action because HMOs are affecting people’s quality of life.”
Copies of the draft policy and the questionnaires are available from the Park Community Centre in Chelmsford Street, the council offices at North Quay and online at www.weymouth.gov.uk Questionnaires must be returned to the council by March 21.
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