New plans could allow licensing chiefs to conduct spot checks on nightmare neighbours in Dundee.
Under the proposals, councillors could visit trouble spots before removing licenses from landlords who rent to troublesome tenants.
The move, which could cause a headache for second homeowners, comes after a spike in complaints about Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) blighting community life in the city.
In a report to the city’s licensing committee, Dundee’s housing boss, Elaine Zwirlein, said: “The need for site visits has been raised by members of the committee and it is agreed that these will prove useful in helping members determine contentious applications where there are perhaps objections and or the property is contained in an area of over provision or the grant of a licence would create over provision.”
The proposed powers will allow members to visit potential HMOs before they approve the licence.
Committee member Tom Ferguson said that the new site visits would be “just the beginning” of new powers to help keep nightmare neighbours under control.
He told The Courier: “Clearly over the last few years there’s been a sense that HMO ‘hubs’ are being created.
“That’s simply not good for certain areas.
“I’ve nothing against students, who add a lot to our city, but we also have to respect established communities as well.
“This is an important step in making sure we can protect those communities, but it is not the last step by a long shot.
“Dundee is a city coming out of the doldrums and we very much have to make sure we strike the right balance.”
The report, which will be considered by the licensing committee this Thursday, suggests that the number of HMO properties allowed outside the city centre should remain at 12.5%, despite those rules being flouted in some areas.
Ms Zwirlein said: “The 12.5% level set within the existing policy mirrors the existing planning percentage and is critical to coordinating the planning and licensing policies.
“At this time the vast majority of Census Output Areas have not reached the over provision levels, meaning that there are less than 12 in 100 households in any one COA which are HMOs.
“Where within the west end of the city there are COAs which exceed the cap of 12.5%, this reflects their proximity to the university, historical use and the flexibility of the policy to allow exemptions to the policy to be considered.”