Ipswich Society raises concerns over HMOs and Article 4 Direction: A wider trend?

In the latest membership newsletter, The Ipswich Society has highlighted growing concerns about the increasing number of Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMOs) in Ipswich and the challenges of managing this trend with the new Article 4 direction.

The Society warns that many properties in the town are being rapidly converted into HMOs by property speculators, often from outside the region, who target relatively affordable Victorian and Edwardian homes for high-yield conversions. This has raised questions about the future of affordable family housing in the town.

These conversions typically transform two- or three-bedroom terraced houses into six or more single-occupancy rooms. The result is a loss of shared living spaces and an overall degradation of the housing stock. Some developers are even converting properties just outside the new Article 4 zones, with the Ipswich Society thinking they may be sidestepping planning restrictions.

The Society notes concerns about fire safety, quality of construction, and the pressure on local infrastructure from these changes. With rents rising since the 2020 cost of living crisis, HMOs are seen as a lucrative investment, but the community impact is significant.

The Ipswich Society is calling for stricter controls and a wider application of Article 4 to better preserve the character and liveability of local neighbourhoods. At Civic Voice we are keen to hear whether other civic societies are observing similar trends in their areas and would welcome further discussion on how to address this issue collectively.

Are other civic societies experiencing a similar influx of HMO conversions? If so, we would be interested in connecting you with the Ipswich Society would like to connect and explore potential strategies to protect family housing and ensure sustainable growth.

For more information or to share your experience contact Trinity Frantzen at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) who will collate the replies.