Belfast City Council has firmly rejected an accusation from a lawyer representing landlords that it is operating a “blanket ban” on student type houses in South Belfast.
The allegation came at this week’s meeting of the council ’s Licensing Committee, when elected representatives overwhelmingly voted not to give new HMO licences to three properties in the Holyland and Stranmillis.
Councillors turned down new applications for HMO status for two flats at 3 Ireton Street, for 20 Stranmillis Gardens, and for 19 Sandymount Street. In each case the reason for refusal was because HMO provision in those streets already exceeded the 30 percent limit allowed by council policy.
