NOISY students in Worcester, troublesome tenants and irresponsible landlords may soon face tighter controls says a campaigning neighbour who urged people to fill in a questionnaire before the deadline.

David Wright, whose peace has been disturbed by noise and anti-social behaviour from students in Nuffield Close, St John's, in the past says a Worcester City Council questionnaire about licensing controls of Houses of Multiple Occupation or 'HMOs' may help get a handle on some of the problems and make for a more harmonious community.

The consultation called 'Living Together Safely' which was launched on November 10 last year closes on January 30 and Mr Wright urged the public to have their say by filling in the online questionnaire with the deadline looming. The aim of an additional licensing scheme is to improve the quality of rented housing stock, ensure minimum fire safety and make sure HMOs are well managed and to make occupants and managers aware of their responsibility to reduce anti-social behaviour.

Mr Wright, chairman of the Nuffield Close Residents Association (NCRA), with other residents in the close, have complained of loud parties, queuing taxis, shouting, screaming and beer bottles being broken in the street. One pensioner had to leave her home because of the noise during Fresher's Week last September as reported in the Worcester News at the time.

Mr Wright said of the consultation: "This will shape the future of the city in terms of housing provision and how housing is managed to make sure there is a safe environment for tenants. We have been affected by some HMOs with absent landlords. I would like private residents to be given the opportunity to comment. This will make it a lot more regulated and ensure minimum standards of safety. It should ensure a better level of management of the house in terms of reporting antisocial behaviour. At the moment there is a black hole. When you get a problem who do you go to - the council, the university, the police? This is getting the landlord to join in and be more responsible for the business they're running."

The licenses are for HMOs that are three or more storeys, and with five or more occupants where facilities such as kitchens and bathrooms are shared. So far, nearly 200 HMOs have been licensed under this scheme.

The legislation (The Housing Act 2004) also allows councils to introduce “additional licensing” for other rented accommodation. Worcester City Council is considering whether to introduce a scheme for other HMOs with three or more people, two of which are unrelated. These include shared houses, bedsits, and some flats where kitchens and bathrooms are shared. This includes houses rented by students. There are between 1,500 and 2,000 of these in the city representing between 4 per cent and 6 per cent of the total housing stock (the national average is 1.9 per cent).

The proposed new regulations would ensure that adequate fire precautions, security measures, heating and space standards are to an acceptable standard within this type of shared housing.

Worcester City Council would ensure that all landlords are suitable (“fit and proper” persons) to own or manage a HMO. This means that properties are run by competent landlords who behave in a professional manner, comply with all the necessary regulations and manage the properties effectively.

The questionnaire is available at www.worcester.gov.uk/voiceit