Across West Northamptonshire, voters will elect 76 councillors in 35 different wards. More than 350 candidates are standing from ten political parties, as well as a number of independents. Find a full list of candidates here.
Chronicle & Echo has reached out the leaders of the parties to ask them about four topics that matter most to our readers.
Over the next few days we will be publishing a series of articles, detailing the responses we have received from some of the political parties competing for your votes on polling day on Thursday May 1.
Next up is the issue of regulating Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMOs) and issues connected to HMOs. We asked the leaders what their party intends to do to address the issue if they are elected.
We received responses from the Conservatives, the Green Party, the Heritage Party (which has one candidate standing in Dallington and Spencer), an Independent candidate, Labour, the Liberal Democrats, Reform UK and the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition.
Below are the responses from those parties regarding the regulation of HMOs, in alphabetical order of party name.
Chronicle & Echo also contacted The Social Democratic Party and The Labour and Co-operative Party - who have candidates standing in West Northamptonshire - but we did not receive a response.
If any independent candidates would like to offer their response to this issue, please email [email protected].
9. Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
Katie Simpson, chair of the Northampton branch of the TUSC, said: "Houses of Multiple Occupation are an inevitability in a housing crisis. Many HMOs become over-occupied by desperate people who cannot afford housing. Our wages aren't increasing. The primary issue is the shortage of social housing available at genuinely affordable rates. Over the decades, our council has failed to meet the needs of residents. Everyone should have the right to a safe, secure home. We will commit to building high-quality, affordable, and carbon neutral council housing. And take empty homes into public ownership where appropriate. The homelessness crisis in Northampton is a pressing issue, as council services and homelessness charities are overwhelmed by the number of people in need of support. On average, there are 700 new applications for council housing each month, and the wait for housing can extend for several years. West Northamptonshire Council has approved the construction of 2,282 homes, but questions remain about how many will be built in the next five years. What will the affordability and quality of these homes be? Construction workers have expressed concerns about cutting corners during the building process. Additionally, given the town's significant air pollution problem, as highlighted by "1000 Voices," we must consider how environmentally friendly these new developments will be. There is an urgent need for a mass social housing building campaign to address the community's pressing housing needs. This campaign should prioritise employing council workers and utilizing innovative, eco-friendly materials and designs to create durable, high-quality homes. We also advocate for rent controls to cap rental prices, with fair rent decisions made by elected bodies comprised of tenants, housing workers, and trade union representatives. Furthermore, we will campaign for the nationalisation of large privately owned building companies, land, banks, and estates to ensure fair and accessible housing for all." Photo: Submitted