Councillors have granted a multiple occupancy certificate to a west end property whose residents had become nuisance neighbours.
Members of Dundee City Council’s licensing committee passed an application by Easylets Ltd for the Westfield Place property.
In a letter, objectors Beverley and Malcolm Horner stated that their quiet street had been plagued by rowdy student residents, who had attracted gulls by leaving overflowing bins on the road.
Parking had also become difficult, while in the past they had to deal with smashed bottles outside their house and noisy students returning home at 4am.
Mrs Horner told councillors on Thursday: “As we have indicated many times in the past, striking a proper balance between residential properties and those with HMO licences in such a small street is not easy.
“However, it seems to us that the quality of management of HMOs should be taken into consideration in determining the appropriate density.”
At the meeting of the committee yesterday, private sector services manager Colin McRae admitted: “There is overprovision in this area although the property was previously licensed.
“There are currently 16 legal operating HMOs within this census area offering 66 spaces.”
Councillors backed the use of HMOs as a way of holding landlords to account for the behaviour of tenants.
Councillor Lesley Brennan said: “For me there is more comfort having an HMO as we have more power to scrutinise.”
Councillor Tom Ferguson told Mrs Horner that management of HMOs was improving, stating: “It is getting better but it’s only getting better because of the pressure getting put on by people like yourself and myself.”
The committee moved to approve the application with the caveat that they reassess the situation in six months to ensure there is no issue for residents.
Mrs Horner said: “I’m happy with the outcome. HMO has been a bonus because I can contact people with any problems, unlike if it was a private flat then I’m not sure who to contact.”