OVERCROWDED private properties with communal facilities are the “human equivalent of battery chicken farms”, according to a councillor.

Sam McLean, Colchester councillor for New Town and Christ Church, has raised concerns over the quality of houses in multiple occupation (HMO) in the city.

Buildings with HMO licenses are often used for student accommodation, as hostels, or for housing, and usually have some shared utilities, such as a kitchen.

According to Colchester Council, while “most HMOs are of a good standard, some often have poor standards” in comparison to other privately owned accommodation.

The authority uses regulation to ensure the properties are well managed, but Mr McLean believes action needs to be taken to prevent more HMOs being developed.

READ MORE: Neglected eyesore site could be bulldozed and transformed into student accommodation

“Houses in multiple occupation are the human equivalent of battery chicken farms, except battery chicken farms were made illegal ten years ago,” he said.

“They are the product of landlord greed, landlords looking to maximise their profit margins by crowding as many tenants into a house as possible.

“This is at the expense of the health and happiness of tenants and with a complete disregard of the negative impact transient demographics have on the community.”

Mr McClean has voiced his worries after Colchester Council received a planning application from a developer who wants to demolish 12-13 Magdalen Street.

Documents seen by the Gazette show an ambition to transform the rundown space into a house in multiple occupation site, consisting of 23 en suite bedrooms.

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Mr McClean added: “I’m not denying the land needs to be developed for the better, and that Colchester needs more homes for Britain’s growing population.

“But the housing we build needs to be ethical and suitable for the local community. Why can’t the developers build single bedroom flats or studio apartments instead?

“New Town has too many poorly managed HMOs and authorities need more powers to stop and regulate the development of HMOs and to challenge rogue landlords.”

Bosses at Colchester Council, however, have said HMOs help fulfil the city's necessary housing need for a wide demographic, including students.

A spokesman said: “Houses in Multiple Occupation are the only affordable housing option for many of Colchester’s residents.

“The council has powers provided by national legislation to regulate housing conditions in all privately and socially rented homes.

"Our private sector housing team takes robust enforcement action whenever it identifies poor housing conditions, including in HMOs.

“The team are also consulted as part of the planning process, when applications are submitted to create new HMOs.

"The team also offers an advice service for anyone looking to set up new HMOs, to enable them to be compliant with their legal obligations.”