Council to launch consultation on options for lowering HMO threshold in Derry
Derry City and Strabane District Council is to launch a consultation on options to lower the maximum proportion of Houses of Multiple Occupation in streets in the city.
The move was mandated by councillors earlier this year and requires a revision of the Local Development Plan (LDP) Planning Strategy (PS), which was adopted in July 2025.
The Council is now set to revise the strategy.
"The proposed Revision will amend the policy for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). The Council has now published a Preferred Options Paper (POP) for the proposed Revision of the LDP Plan Strategy Policy on HMOs.
“The PS-R POP sets out the key issues regarding HMOs, the possible options and the Council’s preferred options. It is intended to promote debate on the main issues, in advance of preparing the draft revised HMO policy in the coming months,” according to a public notice.
The proliferation of HMOs in some areas, particularly in the neighbourhoods adjoining Ulster University’s Magee College campus, has generated a high profile campaign of opposition among local residents.
Councillors, meanwhile, have indicated that the threshold for HMOs should be lowered from 30 per cent to 10 per cent.
DC&SDC is set to launch a consultation on its preferred options on Wednesday, August 5.
All documents will be available to view at www.derrystrabane.com/ldp or by appointment only, at the Council’s offices at 98 Strand Road Derry BT48 7NN, or at the Strabane office.
The consultation will close on Wednesday, September 30, 2026. Responses should be sent by email to [email protected] or to Planning LDP Team, Derry City and Strabane District Council, 98 Strand Road Derry BT48 7NN.