Oxford loses student housing court battle (From Oxford Mail)

Oxford loses student housing court battle (From Oxford Mail)

OXFORD City Council’s High Court bid to stop parts of the city being over-run by student homes has failed.

Councils from Milton Keynes, Oxford and Newcastle-upon-Tyne had challenged new regulations introduced by Housing Minister Grant Shapps that make it easier for landlords to rent their properties out to multiple tenants.

But that challenge was rejected yesterday.

The councils had asked Judge Sir Michael Harrison to quash the changes, which allow residential homes to be converted to Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) without the need for planning permission.

They argued the Government failed properly to consult local planning authorities prior to making the changes that took effect in October last year.

But the judge ruled the consultation process was not unfair, following as it did a year after a fuller consultation on the issue of HMOs by the previous Government.

He said the coalition Government carried out a second smaller consultation in 2010, seeking further input from representative bodies.