Birmingham’s Labour MP Paulette Hamilton has spoken against having too many HMOs in her Erdington constituency in Birmingham, blaming them on fuelling anti-social behaviour.
She told Birmingham Live that as soon as she gets wind of a plan to create more HMOs, she galvanises householders, starts petitions and speaks out – so far blocking 100% of new applications.
Hamilton was elected in 2022.
She said: “Erdington had more than its fair share, and enough was enough.
“I made it my mission to campaign for better housing and to halt the rapid increase of HMOs that were causing misery to families and altering the character of our neighbourhoods.
“I’m not a politician who shouts from the sidelines, I roll up my sleeves, get involved, and fight tirelessly for our community.”
Hamilton halted a proposal to turn the former Royal Oak pub into a 10-bed HMO, as well as turning a three-bed HMO into one accommodating seven people, which would have been the 209th HMO in the ward of Erdington.
In October Birmingham councillors also threw out a plan to turn a four-bedroom house in Danesbury Crescent into an HMO.
She added: “This is a testament to what can be achieved when communities come together with their MP to put their area first.
“It sends a powerful message that we won’t stand by while our neighbourhoods are undermined, we’ll take action to protect them.”