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

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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

South Yorkshire Police Hand Out £34,000 in Fines At Sheffield Student Party

BBC News, Sheffield & South Yorkshire, reported on Saturday 6 February 2021 that South Yorkshire Police broke up a student party at Randmoor Student Village in Sheffield attended by more than 150, having been called to the site by university security staff in the early hours of Thursday 4 February 2021.

Government Plans Phased Return of Students from 8 March

On Friday 5 February 2021, Richard Adams and Rachel Hall reported in the Higher Education section of the Guardian that the Secretary of State for Education is planning to begin a phased return of students to English universities from 8 March 2021.

Manchester University Clampdown on Hall Parties

Rebecca Day, writing in the Manchester Evening News on Thursday 4 February 2021, reported that Manchester University is warning students that they risk being removed from their accommodation following a 'series of parties in halls'.

Coronavirus Rules: Durham City Residents Complain About Students' Return

On Friday 15 January 2021, Kali Lindsay, writing in the Chronicle Live reported that Durham Parish Council had received numerous complaints about the number of students returning to the city. Police have been asked to increase patrols over fears returning students are breaching coronavirus rules.

Snowball Fight in Hyde Park, Leeds Ends Up with Covid Fines For Organisers

BBC News reported that a snowball fight attended by hundreds on 14 January 2021 in Hyde Park, Leeds, resulted in West Yorkshire Police fining two men who organised it £10,000 each. One of them had been fined previously for breaching coronavirus restrictions on mixing households.

NOTTINGHAM NEWS

Return of Remaining Students to Nottingham Delayed

Gurjeet Nanrah, Nottingham Post Life Writer, reported on Monday 15 February that Nottingham University and Nottingham Trent University have confirmed that, as a result of the present lockdown, students who are not studying courses that have already resumed on campus will not return to face-to-face teaching until at least 8 March 2021.

Chilwell Residents Have Concerns About Proposal For Student Flats On Vacant Nottingham College Campus Site

Jamie Barlow, Nottingham Post Digital News Correspondent reported on Wednesday 10 February 2021 that the proposal to build 162 new student bedrooms on the former Nottingham College campus in the High Road, Chilwell is causing concerns for local residents.

Alleged Breach of Covid-19 Rules: Nottingham University Student Appears in Magistrates' Court

On Monday 8 February 2021, Matt Jarram, Senior Digital Reporter and Crime Correspondent of the Nottingham Post, reported on the appearance at Nottingham Magistrates' Court of a Nottingham University student charged in connection with an alleged breach of Covid-19 rules at a house party in Lenton with approximately 50 persons present. The student has pleaded not guilty to the charge and the trial is set to take place at the beginning of August.

Proposal to Build Student Accommodation on Land Off Huntingdon Street Raises Concerns

On Monday 1 February, Jamie Barlow, Nottingham Post Digital News Correspondent, reported on plans by the Purico group of companies to build almost 250 student flats on vacant land on Union Road and St. Marks Street. A plan to build student flats on vacant land on Ilkeston Road, also reported on by Jamie Barlow on Saturday 6 February 2021, has similarly raised concerns that the areas around Lenton are already 'swamped' with student accommodation.

Nottinghamshire Police Issue £800 Covid Fines As Student Party is Discovered

On Sunday, 31 January 2021 Ben Reid, Digital News Correspondent of the Nottingham Post, reported that police in Nottingham had fined 21 people who attended a student party in flats on Castle Boulevard. BBC News also reported the same incident on Monday 1 February 2021.

NEIGHBOURHOOD NEWS

Developers Propose 158-Bed Student Accommodation for Former School

Jamie Barlow, Nottingham Post Digital News Correspondent reported on Friday 26 February 2021 that developers have submitted plans to transform the former school at the junction of Lenton Boulevard and Ilkeston Road into a 158-bed student accommodation complex.

Outline Planning Permission for 270-Bed Student Accommodation on Triumph Road Given by Planning Committee

Following on from the articles in the Nottingham Post by Peter Hennessy (Monday 15 February 2021) and Jamie Barlow (Tuesday 9 February 2021), Ben Cooper, writing on Thursday 18 February 2021 reported that at its meeting on Wednesday 17 February 2021 Nottingham City Council's Planning Committee granted outline planning permission for the development of a 270 bed student purpose built block on Triumph Road, close to its junction with Derby Road.

Police Shut Down Nottingham University Student Marquees After Reports of Parties and Noise During Campus Lockdown

Ben Reid, Nottingham Post Digital News Correspondent, reported on Monday 8 February 2021 that, following reports of parties and noise complaints, Nottinghamshire Police have shut down heated marquees set up by Nottingham University for students to use in between teaching sessions and their spare time.

Returning Students Who Do Not Need to Be in Nottingham Should 'Go Home'

In the wake of a rise in house parties, Matt Jarram, the Nottingham Post's Senior Digital Reporter and Crime Correspondent, reported on Wednesday 3 February 2021 that Nottinghamshire's Police and Crime Commissioner, in reflecting the concerns of residents that students are returning to Nottingham even if their studies do not require them to be here, has called for these students to 'go home'..

Major Roadworks in Derby Road and Adjacent Areas To Take Place Until April

The Nottingham Post's reporter, Anna Whittaker wrote on Sunday 24 January 2021 that major road works by Western Power Distribution, centred on Derby Road, are due to take place between January and April with lane closures and temporary traffic lights leading to delays.


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.

©2021 The Nottingham Action Group

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