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

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

Here are links/telephone numbers if you need help, advice, information, or just some-one to talk to:

0115 915 5555: (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.)

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

St_Marys_Wollaton_Can_we_help_Can_you_help.pdf

Lenton_Community_Coronavirus_Action_.pdf

Coronavirus update: Apply, SHARE, support; Money help and advice

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


THE NAG
WHO ♦ WHAT ♦ WHY ♦ HOW?
 


7 FEBRUARY 2004 

It's difficult to pinpoint exactly when the momentum that led to the formation of the NAG 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 the University of Nottingham 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 come together at the then Western Club. But in my mind, 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 ).

I've done some hunting around in the NAG's archives (NAG Magazine Issues 2009: NAG Magazine (TransNAG), and I've come up with two articles in the Evening Post, one by Joanna Kowalski reporting that QMC Forum meeting, and one written by Guy Woodford about the inaugural meeting of the Nottingham Action Group on 7 February, 2004. Together, they begin to set the scene for what has come about since.

Editor


End of Academic Year 2019-2020 & New Academic Year 2020-2021
A LETTER FROM RESIDENTS
 

Against the background of the Covid-19 pandemic, the widespread problems experienced by residents as students have returned to collect the belongings they left behind when lockdown began in March, have heightened residents'  concerns about the impact on them and their families and friends when the next academic year begins in September.

In response 'A Letter Expressing Concerns About the End of the Academic Year 2019-2020 & the New Academic Year 2020-2021' has been compiled by representatives of the Arboretum Residents' & Tenants' Association (ARTA), the Berrymede (North Sherwood Street) Neighbourhood Group, the Portwell (Portland Road-Cromwell Street) Residents' Group, the Lenton Drives & Neighbours Residents' Association (LDNRA) and the Nottingham Action Group on HMOs (NAG). This was sent on 28 June to, amongst others, the Vice-Chancellors and Registrars of Nottingham University and Nottingham Trent University, MPs for the Nottingham South and Nottingham East Constituencies, the Leader of Nottingham City Council, the Council's Portfolio Holder for Communities, Ward Councillors, and Nottinghamshire Police. Since then, the Councillors and residents of Beeston Central Ward have also added their signatures to the letter.

A summary is given here, and the full letter can be downloaded by following this link:

A_Letter_from_Residents_Amended_30.06.2020.pdf 

SUMMARY

A. Background

  • Concerns have been logged over many years about the severe effects on the psychological health of permanent residents due to aggravations from the many students in our neighbourhoods, and their alarming lack of social responsibility.
  • Recent action by Police, Community Protection and the universities has affected the behaviour of individuals, but does not act as a general deterrent. Students are generally disparaging about the universities’ actions.

B. Concerns of Residents End of Academic Year 2019-2020

  • Return of students to collect belongings has been disastrous. There has been little evidence of adherence to university guidelines for the process and a complete disregard for Covid-19 social distancing. Residents have felt vulnerable and have had genuine fear. There are examples of students being extremely rude, with no respect for others .
  • Many students have stayed several weeks or days, and there have been disturbances day and night with permanent ‘party atmosphere’ and increased rubbish.
  • Therefore sleep disturbance for many who are already distressed from the lockdown. These include key workers on shifts, teachers, Covid-19 sufferers and grievers.

C. Concerns of Residents for Academic Year 2020-2021

  • The Autumn Term is particularly stressful for residents every year. Covid-19 imposes an extra  dimension of anxiety.
  • Current experience with a relatively small number of students suggests that there will be a massive lack of respect and responsibility for the guidance  the universities and others provide.
  • Nottingham currently has a low Covid-19 infection rate. The influx of thousands of students from different parts of the country into our neighbourhoods is worrying.
  • There is a fear for the impact and pressure on our GP surgeries.
  • We fear even greater use of house parties if pubs and clubs have social restrictions.
  • The probable use of online courses points to even more daytime noise and gatherings.

D. Suggestions for Mitigating Action

  • Extra  funding for police, and in particular for dedicated CPO teams in affected areas.
  • More severe penalties for students who breach guidelines or distancing standards.
  • Residents feel invisible, that our needs are not met, and that decisions are made for us, not with us.

 


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.


COMPLAINTS ABOUT LICENSED HMOs
 

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

hmo@nottinghamcity.gov.uk


REPORT A ROGUE LANDLORD

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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

Nottingham City Council Consultation on Proposed Contributions to Affordable Housing from New Purpose Built Student Accommodation

Closing Date for comments is Wednesday 5 August 2020. The recently adopted Local Plan Part 2 makes provision for contributions to be negotiated with PBSA providers for help in meeting the wider affordable housing need of the City.


NEWS DESK
 


NATIONAL NEWS

Leeds Students' All-Night 'Covid Parties'

Writing in the Yorkshire Evening Post on Wednesday 1 July 2020, Mark Lavery reported on the noise nuisance and other anti-social behaviour experienced in the Hyde Park area of Leeds at what residents' are calling all-night 'Covid parties'.

Leicester University Vice-Chancellor Urges Students to Still Take Up Places in the Autumn

On Wednesday 1 July 2020 BBC News Reporter Amy Woodfield posted that the Vice-Chancellor of Leicester University was urging students not to defer taking up their places at the university in September following the lockdown in the city.

Universities Minister: English Universities Recruit Too Many Students ...

... for courses which do nothing to help their career chances. On BBC News on-line on Wednesday 1 July 2020, Sean Coughlan, BBC News Family & Education Correspondent, writing under the banner heading - 'Dumbed down' courses take advantage of students - reported on a speech given by Michelle Donelan MP at an event about improving access to higher education.

 

NOTTINGHAM NEWS

Nottingham City Council Publishes Local Coronavirus Outbreak Control Plan

Nottingham City Council has published on its website the 'Covid-19 Nottingham City Local Outbreak 'Control Plan'.

Public Health Directors Unveil Plan to Manage & Prevent Future Covid-19 Outbreaks in Nottinghamshire

On Wednesday 1 July 2020 Matt Jarram, Senior Digital Reporter & Crime Correspondent for the Nottingham Post reported on the plan that has been devised with key partners which sets out a framework to 'contain the virus', 'safeguard critical services' and ensure school and work places can 'flourish again'.

 

NEIGHBOURHOOD NEWS

Unite Submit Planning Application for 690-Bed Student Purpose Build on Derby Road

On Tuesday 21 January 2020, the Unite Group Plc submitted a planning application to Nottingham City Council for permission to site purpose built student accommodation for 690 students on a car showroom site on Derby Road near its junctions with Gregory Street/Radmarsh Road and Triumph Road.


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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