I hope future potential HMO owners do their homework and take cognisance of the limits that have been applied to the number of qualifying HMO licenses in specific census areas in Dundee and the number of licenses that have already been granted. This information is readily available to potential owners on application to the Council.
Students from our two Universities and Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art are most welcome in our city and add significantly to the life of our city. But the over concentration of students in houses in multiple occupation can strain the good relations between the term time dwellers and the permanent residents.
Whilst I will continue to treat every application of its merit, in general, I think the Licensing Committee should not be granting licenses when there is no capacity left for additonal licenses in a census area and where we think that to do so would be detrimental to maintaining a balanced community.
In parts of the Westend of Dundee, I think we have already reached that point.
