Student block operates for two months without licence

Published on Saturday 7 November 2009 10:52

A CONTROVERSIAL development of student flats next to the Meadows has been operating for two months without a licence.

The Unite group, the UK's largest student accommodation provider, has admitted that it has been operating without a house in multiple occupation (HMO) licence since opening its doors in September.

The news has angered local residents – who campaigned against the proposals to build 250 student bedrooms at Chalmers Street amid fears that the area would be flooded with late-night noise.

However, Unite has now submitted an application for an HMO, which is required for any property occupied by more than two people who are not related.

Andrew Sharp, 30, who lives at nearby Lauriston Gardens and campaigned against the development, said: "It seems incredible that a company which builds students flats can forget to apply for a HMO licence and then only notice two months after they open.

"The development was late in being finished so there is a chance they just calculated it was better to get it open for the new term starting rather than wait for the paperwork to come through.

"Anyway, it won't matter that they've messed this up because in all likelihood the councillors will just nod this through like the majority of all the other HMO applications they get, even if it has pages of objections."

Licensing sources say that the board is likely to let Unite off the hook and pass its application as it has now taken action and submitted a full application.

The former NCP car park that used to serve the old ERI was sold to Unite in early 2007 – at the height of the property market – for more than 8 million after 26 firms bid for the site.

Residents called for the application, for 249 bedrooms in 81 flats, to be thrown out by city planners but it was passed after an initial delay to allow a site visit.

Tory city centre councillor Joanna Mowat said: "I'm surprised that Unite are operating without a licence – it's not as if they don't know the rules. I would have expected they would have got the licence before they get people in because they are supposed to be a reputable company.

"I find it disappointing that they have opened without a licence because it really doesn't do them any good with the residents, especially after the controversy over it opening in the first place."

Unite, which has a number of student flats across the Capital, insists it first started discussing its licence with HMO officers in May.

The firm said it has an "excellent record" in HMO licensing but was not able to explain why it had not submitted a full application in advance of opening.

A company spokeswoman said: "We do appreciate the importance of HMO licensing. Our application has been submitted."