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Leeds 'ghost town' summer fears
MINISTERS are concerned that Leeds is becoming a summer "ghost town" due to the increased number of large student houses in the city.
Leeds is one of five towns and cities where the Government has highlighted reports of growing numbers of properties standing empty during student holidays.
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Housing minister, Caroline Flint, has launched a review into how to improve the management of so-called houses in multiple occupation (HMOs).
There are concerns that student landlords are increasingly concentrating such properties closer together in university towns. This means neighbouring shops, businesses and pubs are hit when the students go home at the end of term.
The closure of these local services can then create bleak ghost-towns.
Leeds has been named by the Government, along with Nottingham, Southampton, Loughborough and Bristol.
A statement by the Department for Communities and Local Government said the student turnover in the city was as high as 52 per cent.
The Housing Act 2004 introduced the licensing of HMOs.
Letting or managing a property without a licence or allowing the property to be occupied by more people than the licence allows is a criminal offence, subject to a fine of up to 20,000.
However, the Government is now exploring how else to beef up planning laws to prevent "studentification" in cities like Leeds.
Ms Flint said: "It is not acceptable that in too many areas people living in HMOs and local communities alike are having their quality of life affected.
"We must have balanced, sustainable communities where settled communities can live side-by-side with those in HMOs.
"The new HMO licensing scheme and tenancy deposit schemes are already making a difference.
"But I want to know what more we can do to provide the right housing in the right place, guarantee proper living conditions for all, and ensure our towns are places people want to live and work in over the long term."
A new survey found that individual landlords tend to offer properties in a better condition than property companies.
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Weather for Leeds
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 1 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 4 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: West
