CAMPAIGNERS have welcomed a new law to stop student homes taking over parts of Bournemouth.

The Article 4 Direction took effect just before Christmas after a year’s notice.

Anson Westbrook of the Winton Forum demanded the rule because student homes were dominating the area.

The Echo has reported residents upset over noise, litter and drunken behaviour.

The law means landlords will need planning permission to create a shared house of three to six people.

The council said there were 2,000 Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in Bournemouth.

Mr Westbrook said on Cardigan Road in Winton, more than 90 per cent of the homes were now HMOs used by students.

“We embarrassed the council into introducing the measure – we were the second town in the country to do it,” he said.

He said Moordown and Talbot Village were starting to experience some of the same problems as Winton.

Moordown Cllr Ian Lancashire: “I think students enjoy purpose built accommodation. Moordown is a family area and we would like to see it stay that way.”

Bournemouth West MP Conor Burns helped get the law and said: “I passionately believe that it is a major asset to have the University and the Arts University but it is also vital that we maintain our sense of balance and community.”

The Winton forum is now campaigning for landlords to be registered, with an annual fee used to pay for council officers to inspect properties.

HMOs of more than six people already needed planning permission.

The new law will apply to all shared houses, not just student homes, and some private landlords have opposed its introduction.

Dave Wells said: “It’s more appropriate for regulation of student houses in areas such as Winton. It will be logistically impossible to enforce and is an unfair extra burden on council taxpayers.”

The Residential Landlords Association, which represents private sector landlords, also opposes the new law.

Chairman Alan Ward told the Echo last year: “Small houses in multiple occupation have an important role to play in housing many young professionals for whom home ownership is simply unaffordable.”

He said the law would also cut house prices because homes would lose investment value.

The cabinet member for housing, Cllr Robert Lawton, said: “The new policy does not stop HMOs coming forward but it does take away some of their permitted development rights and allows more consideration to be given to any new proposals.

“This is a very welcome move and will help us and the public to have a greater say in the number and location of future HMOs.”