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HMO licence granted for former janitor’s lodge

A vacant janitor’s lodge subjected to vandalism in recent years has been granted a licence to operate as a specialist homelessness unit.

At a meeting of the Licensing Committee councillors backed plans to grant a house of multiple occupation (HMO) licence to the council’s homelessness service to turn the former Tullos Primary School Lodge into temporary homeless accommodation.

The property is situated on the far corner plot of the Tullos Primary School site with dedicated access to the lodge available from Kirkhill Place. The lodge has been empty for several years since the school janitor service changed and has become a target for vandals.

Under the homelessness service’s plans the lodge will be leased from the council’s asset and management department with estimates now being sought for the cost of work to refurbish the property with five single letting bedrooms and a communal kitchen and bathroom.

The HMO was granted with specific conditions applied by the committee. The conditions mean that temporary accommodation will only be offered to single applicants who are in paid employment, a gate providing access to the school grounds will be blocked and residents of the lodge will be restricted from accessing the school grounds.

The homelessness service anticipates residents will stay for two months in order to help them save money towards a deposit for permanent accommodation. They also told the committee residents would be monitored before they were housed in the lodge and for the duration of their stay.

Licensing convener Councillor Kirsty West said: “This is an unusual site but we have received assurances from the city council homelessness service over the accommodation and the criteria for residents.

“We have applied the necessary conditions to this application to reassure local residents that the committee considered every aspect of this HMO application and we will continue to monitor the licence as part of the council’s ongoing work for every HMO.”

The Housing and Environment Committee previously backed the plans to change the use of the janitor’s lodge to temporary homeless accommodation when it met last month.

Housing and Environment convener Councillor Aileen Malone said: “Homelessness can affect people from all walks of life. It is therefore essential that we as a council consider different ways of dealing with homelessness so we can deliver a service that benefits those in need.

“This can be a great facility to help people who have secured paid employment but cannot afford a home. Accommodation like the Tullos Lodge could help them get back on their feet and secure a home.”

The cost of refurbishment and work to be carried out at the site will be reported back to the Finance and Resources Committee in due course.

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