Welcome to the Website
of the
NOTTINGHAM ACTION GROUP ON HOUSES IN MULTIPLE OCCUPATION
 

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New Moon Over Stromboli


THE NAG
WHO ♦ WHAT ♦ WHY ♦ HOW?
 

It's difficult to pinpoint exactly when the momentum that led to the formal constitution of the NAG on 7 February 2004 began to build up. A lot of what happened came about almost by accident rather than intent, with contacts being established between people who, as a rule, one would not have expected to meet up, but who did. 

By pooling their resources they set up the circumstances that brought together a diverse group of individuals from very different neighbourhoods in Nottingham who had in common the same sort of concerns about the erosion of those neighbourhoods by large numbers of shared houses (HMOs as we since learned to call them). 

No doubt, opinions will vary as to exactly when that momentum became sufficient to trigger the formation of the NAG. In February 2003 Nottingham University hosted the launch of a report commissioned by the City's Area 4 Committee on the effects of what we now call 'studentification'. That launch brought together some of the people who helped to bring about the NAG. A meeting with Alan Simpson MP followed on the 14 August 2003. Although it had been arranged at relatively short notice, more than 70 people came together at the then Western Club. However, the meeting on the 18 November, 2003 of the QMC Forum is the event that finally triggered the formal constitution of the NAG a few months later:

NotesSpecialQMCForumPublicMeetingNovember2003.pdf

The NAG is one of around 60 groups which, together, form the National HMO Lobby. One of the Lobby's strengths has always been that its members, by exchanging experiences and information, are able to work together to highlight problems of common concern. By doing so, they support one another and help to give a voice and visibility to people who share their concerns about what is happening in their neighbourhoods, to their families, friends and neighbours. 

This has never been more important than now. In Nottingham's so-called 'studentified' neighbourhoods, as in other university towns and cities in the UK, against the background of the Covid-19 pandemic and the widespread problems experienced by residents as students came back to collect the belongings they left behind when lockdown began in March, residents' concerns have been heightened about the impact on them and their families, friends and neighbours as students return for the beginning of the new academic year 2020-2021.

A separate page has been set up on this website

Coronavirus 2020

where, in addition to appearing in the different sections of the NewsDesk pages, news reports and stories have been collated and added to other related papers which, though they do not fit the news format, are an intrinsic part of the   whole. Taken together it is hoped that this page will provide an informal rolling commentary on actions and reactions, local, national (some international) to these widespread concerns, as well as information about what is a constantly developing situation.

For an interactive map giving updated positive Covid-19 cases in the UK and northern Ireland, visit:

 Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the UK: Interactive Map

The NHS also has a dashboard which shows the number of reported coronavirus cases in an area over a seven-day period. You can select the area by entering a postcode and the distance from the postcode. The dashboard also shows the number of people in that area who have had their suspected coronavirus symptoms assessed by NHS 111:

Coronavirus in your area - NHS Digital


COVID-19: 
If You Need Help, Advice, Information ...
 

... or just some-one to talk to, here are the links:

Nottingham City Council number for vulnerable and isolating people who need assistance with groceries, medicine, etc. Calls answered Monday to Friday 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. Tel: 0115 915 5555

ALSO

https://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/coronavirus/

St_Marys_Wollaton_Can_we_help_Can_you_help.pdf

Lenton_Community_Coronavirus_Action_.pdf

You can contact the NAG by phone and/or E-mail:

Tel: 07784 881412
(Please leave a brief message and include a return phone number)

E-Mail contact@nottinghamaction.org.uk
(If you do  not get a reply within 24 hours, please try our telephone number)

Take care♦ Stay safe ♦ Stay well


WHAT IS A HOUSE IN MULTIPLE OCCUPATION (HMO)?
 

An HMO is often also known as a 'shared house'. Put as simply as possible, an HMO is a building, or part of a building, occupied as a main residence by more than one household where a 'household' can be one person or several people provided that they are related to one another. So, for example, a home is probably an HMO if 

•three or more unrelated people live there as at least two separate households, and

•the people living there share the same amenities such as a kitchen and/or bathroom.

For more information about HMOs and about legislation relating to HMOs, we suggest you take a look at these websites:

http://www.hmolobby.org.uk

http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/HMO 

Also, Nottingham City Council publish a regularly up-dated Register of Licensed HMOs, which can be downloaded from the appropriate link in this page: http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/HMO. Scroll to the 'Downloads' section and the register is the last item on the list.

Compaints about licensed HMOs can be made directly by e-mailing:

hmo@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

If you want advice or help relating to the condition and management of your privately rented property

Visit:
E-Mail: environmental.health@nottinghamcity.gov.uk
Telephone: 0115 915-2020 (Option 4)
Write to: Environmental Health, Community Protection, Nottingham City Council, Loxley House,
Station Street, Nottingham NG2 3NG



FOR YOUR DIARY
 

NAG MEETINGS & EVENTS

February 2019 Unipol-NAG (U-NAG) Open Meeting: 'Current Trends & Future Developments in the Student Housing Market'

Notes of this meeting, held on Thursday 21 February 2019, are now available to read and to download when you open this page.


NATIONAL, NOTTINGHAM & NEIGHBOURHOOD: MEETINGS, EXHIBITIONS, CONSULTATIONS & EVENTS

Items will be added to this page as and when they become available


NEWS DESK
 

NATIONAL & OTHER NEWS

Covid-19: Could Universities Close Again?

On Friday 20 November 2020, Sally Peck (Family, Education and Careers Editor) and Katie Russell posted an article in The Telegraph entitled 'Could universities close again? The new Covid-19 lockdown rules for students in England' in which they explored various aspects of the student experience during the coronavirus pandemic.

Covid Rules: Issue Leading to Suspension of £10,000 Fines Resolved

BBC News has reported that, following resolution of issues which had caused the National Police Chiefs' Council to advise that forces should temporarily not issue fixed penalty notices in cases of breaches of Covid rules on gatherings of more than 30 people, police in England and Wales can now resume issuing £10,000 fines for these breaches.

Coronavirus: Government Propose Mass Testing Scheme To Get Students Home for Christmas

On Tuesday 10 November 2020 Ben Quinn, writing in the Guardian, reported that UK universities are looking for legal and funding clarity over the Government's proposal for a mass testing scheme between 30 November and 6 December designed to get students back to their homes for Christmas.

Warning that Unless Lessons Learned Europe on Track for Third Wave of Covid-19

On Saturday 7 November 2020, Sarah Newey, Global Health Security Reporter for The Telegraph, reported that in an interview with the Director of Surveillance at the European Centre of Disease Control, he had warned that countries will be pushed into a repeating cycle of damaging lockdowns unless they learn the lessons from the failure to safely reopen in the summer, and pending the time when there is a vaccine that can be targeted at a good part of the population.

NOTTINGHAM NEWS

Nottinghamshire Police Warn Students that Trying to Avoid Fines by Giving False Names Has Serious Consequences

Writing in the Nottingham Post on Saturday 14 November 2020, Matt Jarram, Senior Digital Reporter and Crime Correspondent, reported that, in an attempt to avoid a £200 house party fine, a student gave police a false name. Students are now being warned by Nottinghamshire Police that this behaviour could result in a charge for perverting the course of justice.

Mass Covid-19 Testing Roll Out for Nottingham

Writing in the Nottingham Post on Tuesday 10 November 2020, Andrew Topping reported that Government has confirmed that Nottingham and Nottinghamshire will be sent an initial batch of 10,000 Covid-19 tests this week as the initial part of a planned roll out.

Nottingham's Universities Respond to Claims That Many Students will Leave the city During Lockdown

Gurjeet Nanrah, Nottingham Post Community Reporter, writing on Friday 6 November 2020, reported on the response from Nottingham's universities to claims that many students will leave the city they are studying during the lockdown and that it is 'unrealistic' to expect them to stay.

Nottinghamshire Chief Constable Calls on Universities to Expel Students

On Sunday 1 November 2020, Matt Jarram, Nottingham Post Senior digital Reporter and Crime Correspondent, reported that, following on from officers handing out 83 fines, mostly to students, for organising house parties and large gatherings, Nottinghamshire Police's Chief Constable has called the behaviour 'unbelievable' and is calling on the universities to expel students as a strong deterrent.

NEIGHBOURHOOD NEWS

Coronavirus Lockdown: Police Called to Radmarsh Road Courtyard Firework Party

Phoebe Ram, Nottingham Post Digital News Correspondent, reported on Sunday 22 November 2020 that Nottinghamshire Police had fined people, up to 70 of whom had gathered in a courtyard of the student accommodation on Radmarsh Road, Lenton, and set off fireworks. One of the people, who had been issued with a fine for attending a party in October has had his fine doubled to £400.

Police Break Up Large Student Lockdown Parties

BBC News on Saturday 21 November 2020 reported that Nottinghamshire Police have handed out 50 fines after being called to two large student parties in the University Park/Lenton Abbey neighbourhoods. They believe people had travelled from other campuses I'm the city centre to attend these. Nottingham Post's Phoebe Ram (Digital News Correspondent) also reported on this story on Friday 20 November 2020

Planning Application Submitted for Student Accommodation on Former Nottingham College Site in Beeston

Writing in the Nottingham Post on Saturday 21 November 2020, Anna Whittaker reported that plans have been submitted to Broxtowe Borough Council for permission to build student accommodation on the former Nottingham College site in Beeston.

Planning Application Submitted to Convert The Grove Hotel to Social Housing

Following on from the refusal of permission to convert the Grove Hotel into student accommodation (and subsequent dismissal by the Planning Inspectorate of an appeal), a new application has been submitted seeking to redevelop the building as social housing for key workers. Karen Antcliff, Property Editor of the Nottingham Post, reported on this application on Friday 19 November 2020.


EDITOR'S NOTEBOOK
 

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS & DISCLAIMER
 

The Nottingham Action Group on HMOs wishes to thank: Nottingham City Council for funding support; everyone whose contributions (photographs, ideas, articles, work) form part of this website; and Magneto Technologies Ltd (http://magnetoweb.com) for the expertise which has enabled us to set up and maintain this website.

Last, but by no means least, we also thank our neighbours in the National HMO Lobby for their continuing help and support.

The views and opinions expressed in contributions to this website do not necessarily reflect those of the Nottingham Action Group on HMOs, its committee, or its wider membership.

Whilst we endeavour to ensure that reports are accurate, from time to time mistakes may occur. If you feel this is the case, please contact the Nottingham Action Group on HMOs. Information on how to do so is available on the 'Contact Us' page of this website.

©2020 The Nottingham Action Group

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