Anger as Labour leave City open to ‘HMO explosion’

Liverpool Liberal Democrats’ call to protect neighbourhoods from uncontrolled HMO spread voted down by Labour Councillors.

Parts of Everton, Fazakerley, West Derby, Norris Green, Speke, Garston and most of South Liverpool will face the prospect of a ‘HMO explosion’ according to Lib Dem Leader Cllr Carl Cashman. 

Cllr Cashman challenged Labour plans to only protect part of Liverpool from HMOs. His Lib Dem group argued that failing to introduce the Article 4 Direction across the whole city at the same time will cause the problem to spill into other wards, and for 12 months landlords will have free rein in those areas not protected. Family homes can be turned into shared houses in streets where, thanks to Labour, residents have no say.

List of areas not protected by Labour: Waterfront North, Everton East. Everton West, Fazakerley North, Fazakerley East, Fazakerley West, Church, Wavertree Garden Suburb, Childwall, Grassendale & Cressington, Aigburth, Springwood, Allerton, Mossley Hill, Yew Tree, Broadgreen, West Derby Deysbrook, Knotty Ash & Dovecot Park, West Derby Leyfield, Sandfield Park, Garston, Speke, Norris Green, Croxteth, Clubmoor West, Clubmoor East, West Derby Muirhead, Croxteth Country Park, Belle Vale, Woolton Village, Much Woolton & Hunts Cross, Gateacre, Greenbank Park, Tuebrook Larkhill, City Centre North, Festival Gardens, Calderstones and Vauxhall. 

Labour councillors voted down Liberal Democrat plans to protect all of Liverpool’s neighbourhoods from the unchecked spread of houses of multiple occupation (HMOs). The city’s ruling group pushed ahead with plans that will leave large parts of the city with no protection under the Article 4 Direction for at least another 12 months.

Cllr Carl Cashman, Leader of the Liverpool Liberal Democrats, said:

“I’m shocked by Labour’s choice to not protect our entire city. Repeatedly they promised residents that they would take citywide action. I get hundreds of emails and calls from residents across Liverpool, who have told us again and again that they are worried about too many family homes being turned into HMOs. Labour have just told them it’s open season in those areas not protected.

“For the next 12 months, developers can pick out family homes to turn them into HMOs, and the council can’t stop them. I’m a mortgage broker. I know the way that some landlords think and I also know how the housing market works. I am absolutely certain that a phased roll out in only some areas will lead to the areas not protected being swamped by new HMO’s.

“By the time Labour finally act, the damage will be done. Once a family home has become an HMO, it’s very hard to turn back. Communities that could have been protected will have changed for good.

“If the Lib Dems take control in May, we will instruct officers to bring in Article 4 across the whole city straight away and protect the whole city. We’ll also take steps to buy back properties converted to HMOs and turn them back into council-owned family homes. ”

Cllr Rob McAllister-Bell, Lib Dem Councillor for Mossley Hill and member of the Culture and Economy Scrutiny Committee, added:

“Committee members were offered a simple choice tonight: protect the whole city or just some of it. Labour chose to protect some of it for no real reason. Residents will rightly ask why they were left out in the cold, and why Labour were so happy to let it happen.”

Liberal Democrats say they will keep fighting for stronger protection for every neighbourhood, not just a select few.

Notes

• The Liberal Democrat proposal was debated at the 29/10/26 meeting of the Culture and Economy Scrutiny Committee.
• An Article 4 Direction is a power that lets a council require planning permission before a family home can be turned into an HMO. Without one, landlords can often make the change without asking.