Multiple Occupation (Hansard, 3 June 1985)

§ Mr. Knox
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will state the total number of control orders made on houses in multiple occupation by local housing authorities in England and Wales during the most recent year for which statistics are available; and if he will list the local housing authorities concerned.

§ Sir George Young
The information requested is not collected by my Department but the Environmental health report for 1982, which is the most recent one published by the Institution of environmental health officers, indicates that 17 control orders were made that year.

§ Mr. Knox
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the local housing authorities in England and Wales which operate registration schemes for houses in multiple occupation under the Housing Act 1961 to 1969

§ Sir George Young
The local authorities in whose areas registration schemes for houses in multiple occupation have been confirmed are as follows:
Informatory schemes

Birmingham city council

Bournemouth borough council

Cardiff city council

Crawley borough city council

Croydon London borough council

Gloucester borough council

Kingston upon Hull city council

Leeds city council

Liverpool city council

Middlesbrough borough council

Mole Valley borough council

Trafford borough council

Reigate and Banstead borough council

Regulatory schemes

Exeter city council

Combined schemes

Bradford city council

Brent London borough council

Bristol city council

Cambridge city council

Camden London borough council

Doncaster borough council

Enfield London borough council

Greenwich London borough council

Hackney London borough council

Islington London borough council

Kirklees district council

Lambeth London borough council

Lancaster city council

Leicester city council

Lewisham London borough council

Manchester city council

Milton Keynes borough council

Newcastle upon Lyme borough council

Newcastle upon Tyne city council

Newham London borough council

Norwich city council

Oldham borough council

Portsmouth city council

Redbridge London borough council

Rotherham borough council

Salford city council

Sandwell borough council

Scunthorpe borough council

Sheffield city council
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South Tyneside borough council

Southwark London borough council

Stoke on Trent city council

Swansea city council

Tower Hamlets London borough council

Walsall borough council

Wycombe district council

Wyre borough council

§ Mr. Knox
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the progress of his research project on houses in multiple occupation and in particular (a) when he intends to make available the findings of the postal survey of local housing authorities in England and Wales in connection with the project and (b) when he will be able to complete the project and report on its conclusions.

§ Sir George Young
The research project is in three parts: a postal survey of all local authorities in England and Wales; a pilot physical and social survey in three local authority areas involving some 50 houses in multiple occupation; and a full physical and social survey in about 40 local authority areas of at least 500 properties. Reports on the postal and pilot surveys are due to be submitted to my Department shortly. I hope to announce a summary of the results during the autumn and to publish a detailed account before the end of the year. The full survey has not yet started; it will not be completed until the summer of 1986 and publication of the results will not be possible until the winter of 1986–87.

§ Mr. Knox
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the implications of his proposals "Home Improvement — A New Approach" for the improvement of conditions in houses in multiple occupation.

§ Sir George Young
The Green Paper includes several specific proposals for improving the conditions of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs). It suggests a new system of mandatory grants for installing basic amenities and providing means of escape from fire and fixed fire precautions. Other improvements and repairs would attract equity sharing loans.