A LONG-AWAITED student homes crackdown has finally come into force in Worcester - with the city council's leader saying he's determined to take a "tough line" on it.

After more than a year of preparation, the council's Conservative cabinet has agreed a controversial ruling to restrict so-called Homes of Multiple Occupation (HMOs).

From now on, it means the planning committee can refuse a landlord's bid to turn a residential property into an HMO if 10 per cent of the area's homes already have the same status.

During the cabinet meeting to confirm the ruling, it emerged that the policy will be reviewed after six months to see if it is working.

Councillor Simon Geraghty, the leader, said: "There is a need for housing for students and young professionals, but if you get too much of it, the character of an area does change.

"It is absolutely right that we take a tough line on this - as one of those who represents an area where there are a lot of HMOs (St Clement, in St John's) I'm acutely aware of the problems it causes.

"In those areas where it's around the 10 per cent mark already the message needs to go out that there are enough HMOs.

"We need balanced communities and hopefully this policy will reverse some of the decline people have seen in certain areas of the city."

Councillor Andy Roberts, cabinet member for finance, said: "We need to prevent this 'creep' of areas becoming studentified.

"We know the concerns are down to a small minority of people who make an absolute nuisance of themselves.

"Too many people are bad neighbours and I hope this goes some way to addressing that."

HMOs are properties rented to three different tenants or more, including non-students.

It has been opposed by the National Landlords Association (NLA), which said it would implicate housing prices and restrict choice, but the University of Worcester did not object.

Recent surveys by the city council also showed how the policy is popular among Worcester residents.

Councillor Marc Bayliss, deputy leader, said it was "a policy backed by the public".