Recent changes -

• The recent changes in the housing market mean that speculators are no longer interested in buying homes. They are no longer driving a price bubble.
• The recent purpose-built student blocks, with excellent facilities, nearer to the universities, are attracting many students. This means the demand for student housing is falling in Headingley - there are many empty landlord houses.
• Because of the above, and the recent national price slowdown, new owner-occupiers are once again buying in Headingley. We have seen an increase in families with young children.
• The Council's famous Area of Student Housing Restraint never became adopted policy, but was nevertheless influential in protecting the community from additional large student developments. Following a public enquiry the ASHORE has now been upgraded to the Area of Housing Mix. This has been formally adopted as part of the UDP and it is now being effective in ensuring that Headingley remains an area with a sustainable population mix.
• The UDP has been further strengthened by the Headingley Renaissance document.
• The Housing Act, which came into effect in April 2006. All large HMOs now have to be licensed. This means there is far more control over landlordism's worst habits. Residents and students alike are campaigning to extend these controls so that the Council can Licence the Lot.
• In summer 2005, Westminster granted the Council the means to control Letting Boards. Our streets have returned to their original Victorian appearance.