South and East Belfast Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Maskey seeks meeting with Minister to discuss HMO and planning issues

Published: 28 November, 2008

South Belfast Sinn Féin MLA Alex Maskey is to seek a meeting with Environment Minister Sammy Wilson to discuss the ongoing issue of the registration of Homes in Multiple Occupancy (HMO), as well as other Planning issues in the South Belfast area.


The South Belfast MLA said,

"I have written to the Environment Minister, Sammy Wilson, to request a meeting. The Planning Service falls under the Environment Minister's remit, with obvious implications for the South Belfast area.


"Central to the issues which I will be seeking to raise will be the issue of the registration of HMO's and other Planning issues.


"The HMO issue has long been identified as a key problem in the South Belfast constituency. One of the first steps that was outlined to try and tackle the proliferation of HMO's in the area was to begin a process of registering such dwellings. To date this has not been satisfactorily carried out, with the result that the number of HMO's in the area continues to increase.


"Many streets in South Belfast had already been identified as exceeding the HMO quota. Given that the numbers of HMO's have continued to increase, the problem has deepened instead of being resolved".


He concluded,

"It is essential that we get a firm grip on this problem, particularly the continuing failure to adequately register existing HMO's. Interlinked with this are a number of other planning issues within the area. South Belfast has suffered too long and it is my intention to ensure that a focus is kept on this issue".

CRÍOCH