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

Sunset_at_Sea_2.jpg


THE NAG
WHO ♦ WHAT ♦ WHY ♦ HOW?
 


“We are the music-makers,
And we are the dreamers of dreams, ...
... Yet we are the movers and shakers,
Of the world forever, it seems.”

[Arthur O’Shaughnessy, Poems of Arthur O’Shaughnessy]

We are residents living in neighbourhoods from across a large part of the City of Nottingham (Sherwood, The Arboretum, Hyson Green, Radford, The Park, Lenton, Dunkirk, The Meadows, Wollaton Park, Wollaton, Lenton Abbey), and also in Beeston and West Bridgford.

Although our neighbourhoods are as different from one another as we are, what they have in common are the problems caused by increasing concentrations of so-called 'Houses in Multiple Occupation' (HMOs) - shared houses with absentee landlords and short-term, highly transient tenants.

What we have in common is the feeling that as individual residents we run the risk of having little or no say in what primarily local and national government, our higher education establishments, developers, investors, and others are planning and doing, even though their decisions directly affect us and the future of the neighbourhoods in which we live. As individuals we feel we have little or no voice. However, we believe that coming together as a group gives us a voice.

In February 2004, we did get together and formed the Nottingham Action Group on HMOs – the NAG – not a nice name, but appropriate. What has been happening to our neighbourhoods is not nice for those who live in them, or for their futures, and we are ready to nag and keep on nagging to get things done.

Whilst we cannot change what has happened, perhaps we too can become not just the 'dreamers of dreams' but also the 'movers and shakers', and, by influencing what may be going to happen, so help shape the future of our neighbourhoods.

For the NAG that future needs to be neighbourhoods that are resilient, balanced and sustainable, and where people feel happy to put down roots and contribute to the future of the City of Nottingham as a whole. In other words:

‘... places where people want to live and work and learn, now and in the future. ...'



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 'Downloads' section at:

http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/environmental-health-and-safer-housing/private-sector-housing/houses-in-multiple-occupation-hmos/licensing-of-houses-in-multiple-occupation/


REPORT A ROGUE LANDLORD

Renters_Logo.png

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

Visit:
www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/article/29046/Report-a-rogue-landlord-or-problem-with-your-private-rented-property
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

November 2016 NAG Open Meeting

'Everyone Has the Right to Live in a Safe and Healthy Home': Wednesday 30 November 2016, 6.30 pm in the Function Room of the Rose & Crown, Derby Road Lenton. Advance notice of an open meeting of the NAG on HMOs and the private rented sector including licensing, enforcement action, accreditation, impact on surrounding neighbourhoods. Detailed agenda to follow.


NOTTINGHAM & NEIGHBOURHOOD: MEETINGS, EXHIBITIONS, CONSULTATIONS & EVENTS

Saturday 30 July to Sunday 9 October 2016 Nottingham Castle Leonardo da Vinci Exhibition

Ten of the finest drawings by Leonardo da Vinci from the Royal Collection will be on display illustrating the scope of Leonardo's work.


NEIGHBOURHOOD: PARLIAMENTARY CONSTITUENCY ADVICE,
WARD WALKS & WARD EVENTS

Nottingham East Constituency: Contact information for Chris Leslie MP.
Nottingham South Constituency: Contact and constituency advice surgery information for Lilian Greenwood MP.

Dunkirk & Lenton Ward (D&L): Ward Walk, Tuesday 11 October 2016, 9.45 am to 11.00 am, Hillside and QMC, meet outside the Hillside shops. Ward Walk, Tuesday 8 November 2016, 9.45 am to 11.00 am, Lenton Flats, Drives, including Lenton Boulevard, meet in Church Square (ex-Lenton Housing Office). Ward Walk, Tuesday 13 December 2016, 9.45 am to 11.00 am, Dunkirk and Abbey Bridge, meet outside the Dunkirk Community Centre.

Radford & Park Ward (R&P): Ward Walk, Thursday 13 October 2016, 2.30 pm, Lenton Triangle, meet at the corner of Kimboulton Avenue and Ilkeston Road; Ward Walk, Thursday, 10 November 2016, 2.30 pm, Radford West, meet on the green space area of Hartley Road (opposite Sonja's Cafe). Ward Walk, Thursday 8 December 2016, 2.30 pm, The Park Estate, meet at the tunnel entrance on Tennis Mews.

Wollaton East & Lenton Abbey Ward (WELA): Ward Walk, Thursday 13 October 2016, 10.00 to 11.00 am, Olton AVenue, Lenton Abbey, meet at Woodside Road shops. Ward Walk, Thursday 17 November 2016, 10.00 am to 11.00 am, Charnock Avenue, Wollaton Park Estate, meet at the corner of Charnock Avenue and Middleton Boulevard. Thursday 15 December 2016, 10.00 am to 11.00 am, hathern Green, Bosley Square, Enderby Square, Lenton Abbey, meet at the Woodside Road shops.


NEWS DESK
 

NATIONAL NEWS

'Postcards from Belfast's Holyland' ... Revisited

The NAG Magazine Summer 2008 highlighted a series of 'postcards' from around the National HMO Lobby, including Belfast's Holyland. The BBC News on-line Northern Ireland section on Thursday 22 September 2016 carried a report that 'Students involved in anti-social behaviour in Belfast's Holyland area are putting their education and careers at risk' ...

Ground Hog Day

Chris Brooke's article in the Daily Mail on Saturday 3 September 2016 tells the story of a Durham resident who has been driven out of her home for 40 years because she can no longer cope with the anti-social behaviour on the street where she is the only non-student resident.

Rogue Lettings Agent Jailed

Under the headline '"Speak Out" Plea as Rogue Letting Agent is Jailed', on 8 July 2016 Kevin Peachey (BBC Person Finance Reporter) reports on the jailing of a rogue lettings agent and on how billions of pounds could be saved if fraud and scam victims were to speak out rather than 'suffer in silence'.

Scrapping Rent Fees Moves a Step Closer

On Saturday 11 June 2016, the BBC on-line news carried a report by Lindsay Brown (Newsbeat) about changes being proposed to the Renters' Rights Bill which aim to eliminate fees tenants are being charged when beginning (or ending) a tenancy.

 

NOTTINGHAM NEWS

Nottingham Magistrates Fine Nottingham HMO Ltd. £29,000

On Tuesday 6 September 2016, Chris Breese (chris.breese@nottstv.com) reported on Nottingham HMO Ltd which was taken to court by Nottingham City Council for breaching HMO management regulations and failing to respond to a notice requesting information with respect to a property on Alfreton Road, Nottingham.

Landlord Ignored Notice Given by the Community Protection Safer Housing Team

As reported by Rod Malcolm in the Nottingham Post (3 August 2016), the Magistrates' Court has fined 'rogue landlord' Matteo Mariano of Ranmoor Road, Gedling a total of £2681.

Excuse that Being Too Busy Is Not Acceptable: Student Letting Agent Suspended

The Unipol Code Tribunal has suspended Megaclose from the official student housing accreditation scheme after the agent, claiming to be too busy, failed to do remedial work required by the health and safety elements of the Unipol Code.

Nottingham Rogue Landlord Fined Over £3,000

A Nottingham landlord, Sukhvinder Singh Swali of Wollaton, has been fined £3,650 after admitting breaches of housing law which put his tenants lives at risk.

 

NEIGHBOURHOOD NEWS

Plans for New QMC Tram Footbridge Unveiled

An application has been made to Nottingham City Council's planners for permission to build a new covered walkway/footbridge linking the tram stop at the QMC with the south side of the hospital.

Nottingham Trent University Success at 2016 Green Apple Awards

NTU's environmental team was rewarded for its work when it collected Green apple Awards for green projects across its campuses.

New Outdoor Gym Opens on Lenton Recreation Ground

The outdoor gym at Lenton Recreation Ground is now open with exercise equipment suitable for a wide range of age and abilities. Training sessions on the equipment are being offered by the Lenton Centre.


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.

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 endeavouring 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.

©2016 The Nottingham Action Group

Built with Concrete5 by Sarah Evans Designs