New rules to hit student flat-shares in London

Shared houses and flats in London could become a thing of the past if ministers changes the rules, it was claimed today.

Under the proposals by Housing Minister John Healey, planning permission would have to be obtained if an owner wanted to let a property to three or more unrelated people.

About 20 per cent of privately rented homes are shared. The figure is higher in London and rising as home ownership and private renting becomes dearer. Sharing is the only option for many students and the low-paid.

David Salusbury, chairman of the National Landlords' Association said: "London needs shared housing and what we have is a nimbys' charter' which will create no-go areas for landlords, students, young professionals and low-income families."

The National Union of Students said it would force students to live in large ghettos outside the community.

Mr Healey said: "I am giving councils powers to crack down on the worst landlords and stop the spread of high concentrations of shared homes where it causes other residents problems."