WINCHESTER civic chiefs say they have no plans to roll out a move to reduce houses of multiple occupation to other areas under its control.

Winchester City Council is shortly to introduce rules in the Stanmore area to try to curb this issue.

However, the lead member for housing services Cllr Caroline Horrill, informed full council that, though rolling out was an option, at present it was not in the council's plans.

The meeting was told council had agreed to the measure in Stanmore because there was evidence that the number of HMOs was reaching "levels which could have a detrimental impact on the community".

Cllr Horrill stated: "If and when there is evidence that this is also the case in any other part of the city then an Article 4 Direction can be considered.

"There are no plans to roll out greater regulation unless it is necessary."

Article 4 requires landlords to get planning permission for multiple occupation housing.

Opposition Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Lucille Thompson, who posed the question, said the Government's buy to let scheme would only have a marginal effect in Winchester because house prices were rising fast and letting to students was still lucrative.

She said there were increasing numbers of students in St Paul ward taking over family homes.

She said in Stanmore the "horse has already bolted" and she did not want to see the same in other areas.

Concerns were also raised about multiple occupation in Badger Farm and Winnall.

Cllr Horrill said: "If there are other concerns we should address that's a dialogue we should have."