LANDLORDS across Winton attended an important meeting yesterday on the “studentification” of the area.

The consultation meeting, organised by Bournemouth Borough Council and the National Landlords Association, encouraged all local landlords and letting agents in Winton to attend.

The consultation has come about following complaints by residents that the influx of students has changed the character of the area and led to an increase in unsightly properties, noise nuisance and antisocial behaviour.

Complaints over noise have been highest in Winton, Wallisdown and Queen’s Park with residents living in Winton East making the most complaints about poor living conditions.

Now, Bournemouth Council is considering measures to improve the condition and management of HMOs in Winton East, Wallisdown, Winton West and Queens Park.

Their preferred option for dealing with the problems is additional licensing.

The meeting was also an opportunity to discuss the implications of the scheme with the council and fellow landlords, with Nicky Thomas from Bournemouth Council on hand to explain the options for improving HMOs.

Steve Bartlett, NLA representative for Bournemouth said: “Additional Licensing in Winton could have a huge impact on landlords in the area and whilst we are keen for all landlords to uphold the highest standards in private-rented accommodation, licensing all landlords in the Winton area may not be the solution to cleaning up the acts of criminal landlords. Professional landlords take pride in their properties and their businesses.

“But it is often the case that the landlords who don’t look after their properties are the landlords who ignore the regulation.

“Additional regulation will only regulate the professional landlords further and the landlords who give the industry a bad name will continue to operate under the radar.”

Winton Forum chair Anson Westbrook, said: “I think it is a question that there are some landlords who do need to be brought into order.

“Obviously there are some who are responsible. But there needs to be more done. That is recognised.

“It’s good that things are moving forward.”