Posted on Tue 06 Oct 2026 at 11:09 by
Natasha Moscuzza I thought I’d give you an update on a really important piece of work I’ve been focusing on recently!
The council has just released its Draft Local Plan Consultation, and one proposal in particular could have a big impact on student housing in Bath. The proposal would restrict the conversion of 3 bed family homes into Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
You might be wondering... what’s an HMO and why should I care?
Well, most students move into an HMO after their first year. An HMO is a shared house where people who aren’t from the same family live together and share facilities like a kitchen and bathrooms. In other words, it’s what many of us would think of as a typical student house.
The concern is that if fewer homes can be converted into HMOs, there would be fewer student properties available across a city home to three ever-growing Universities. In a city where finding affordable housing is already challenging, this could make it even harder for students to secure suitable, affordable housing in a reasonable location.
It’s not just students who rely on HMOs. Key workers, NHS staff, and young professionals all depend on shared housing as one of the most affordable ways to live in Bath.
To make sure the student voice is heard, I’ve been working with the SU voice team to lobby local stakeholders to build support for a joint letter from the University of Bath Students’ Union, Bath Spa Students’ Union, and Royal United Hospital Staff Side. The letter has been sent to local councillors to highlight the importance of HMOs and the role they play in providing affordable housing across the city, and seeks the removal of the proposed HMO restriction from the draft local plan.
You can read the letter here.
We’re continuing our lobbying effort by meeting with relevant stakeholders, so as always, I’ll keep you updated as things progress!
Lots of love,
Tash x