RESIDENTS have hailed proposed new powers to control the growth of student lets in York.

The Press reported recently how City of York Council may introduce an “article 4” designation for the whole city, meaning developers and potential landlords would need planning permission to change homes into homes of multiple occupation (HMOs) – often student accommodation.

But the authority’s local development framework working group recommended giving a year’s notice of the introduction of such a rule.

Now the Badgerhill Residents Community Group and Osbaldwick Parish Council have welcome the proposal, saying in a joint statement they hoped there would not be any unnecessary delays before the council’s executive agreed to the change.

They said: “Both of our groups have made substantial inputs towards this decision and have been supported by several councillors and our MPs, Julian Sturdy and Hugh Bayley. We thank them for their support.”

They said it was vital for the council to “get a grip” on HMOs before the massive expansion of the University of York proceeded further.

They said the recommended 12 months’ notice period was intended to avoid the possibility of compensation claims from landlords, but they suggested people adversely affected by overwhelming numbers of HMOs in their communities might also be entitled to compensation.

“Protocol 1, Article 1 of the European convention on Human Rights states that everyone is entitled to the ‘peaceful enjoyment of his/her possessions’,” they said.

“This right is being severely challenged by high densities of HMOs in residential areas.”

They said the protocol did not guarantee the right to live in a pleasant environment.

But, in instances where homes were severely affected by, for example, environmental pollution or excessive noise, and this had a significant detrimental effect on the value of a property, the interference might amount to a partial deprivation, for which compensation should be paid.

The Badger Hill Group recently revealed that out of 135 owner-occupiers who replied to a survey about the growth of HMOs, 97 per cent had replied saying they had been adversely affected, citing problems of parking, poor maintenance of properties, noise, litter and antisocial behaviour.