Selly Oak’s MP has said tackling the ‘brewing problem’ of HMOs and exempt accommodation is one of the key challenges he wants to tackle in the coming years.
Al Carns, who became a Birmingham MP during last year’s general election, recently spoke about the “major issue” and what can be done to address it with students from the University of Birmingham.
It comes months after angered Brummies living in the constituency criticised the city council’s “blanket acceptance of HMOs” in parts of the area and called for change.
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“It’s a huge, huge burden on the waste issues,” Elsa Ralph, who has lived in the area for nearly three decades, said last summer.
“And the rat issue is just horrific – it’s really difficult. Each summer, we look at what we can put [in our garden] that the rats won’t attack.”
Another frustrated resident living in the area, who wished to remain anonymous, also told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) at the time that he was worried about the cumulative impact of all of the HMOs and argued that more of a “balance” was needed.
“The area is always going to be populated with students. We live next to one of the best universities in the UK,” he said. “The issue isn’t against students.
“One more HMO in isolation won’t make an issue but when it’s one more on every road, every month or every six months, that’s 30 new HMOs.”
Selly Oak resident Elsa Ralph -Credit:Alexander Brock
During his recent meeting at the Guild of Students, Mr Carns acknowledged that Selly Oak has “more exempt housing and HMOs than any other constituency in Birmingham”.
“I want to make sure HMO and exempt housing has the right legislative wrap around it to make sure it’s done in the right place, at the right time, at the right speed,” he went on to say.
“I think we’re just brewing a real problem there.”
Asked what he wanted to achieve over the next four years in Selly Oak, Mr Carns also said: “There’s a couple of big things on the horizon.
“One is the life sciences centre – it’s really making sure Birmingham becomes a centre for life sciences between us, Oxford and Cambridge.
A pile of bin bags in Selly Oak. -Credit:Alexander Brock
“We have the most diverse population in the UK, we have the youngest population in the UK.
“It’s a perfect sort of ground for effective life science research and development and I want to get the next building moving.
“That’s in excess of three thousand jobs, probably another three thousand jobs after that – I think that’s critical for Selly Oak.”
“I want to get the services improved,” he added. “I mean bins but also the collective services across Selly Oak as a whole.”
What Birmingham City Council has said about HMOs
Last year, Birmingham City Council was asked about residents’ concerns over HMOs and exempt accommodation in the Selly Oak constituency.
Coun Majid Mahmood, the council’s cabinet member for environment, told the LDRS that they understand the concerns of local residents about issues relating to the “street scene” in their part of Selly Oak.
“First and foremost, we cannot lose sight of the fact that everyone living or operating a business in any area has a personal responsibility to respect their local environment,” he said.
“The majority of the people in Selly Oak look after their environment for which many thanks.
“We know of many good people who litterpick and report environmental issues. If everyone did this, we would not witness the many issues that are being experienced in this case.”
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However, he continued that it was right that the council “also has a part to play too”.
“The councillors for the area, for a very long time, have worked hard to engage with the community and stakeholders such as the Student Guild,” he said.
“Our waste management team has also carried out various activities in the area in an attempt to encourage the positive behaviours that would end the local issues.
“Existing regulations relating to HMOs can also play a part with such issues, and where we have evidence of waste offences that meet the legally-required threshold, we will not hesitate to prosecute – as evidenced by a range of cases in the past across Birmingham – but we need conclusive evidence and/or witnesses willing to come forward to do this.”
He added: “A Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) remains a potential option but has to be a last resort when all other options are exhausted.
“We will keep the situation under review but believe the other actions and options that are being followed, finalised or are already available need to be given a chance to have an impact before an order is considered.”