East Belfast: HMO attacks the work of 'racist agitators'

In East Belfast, a series of recent attacks targeting houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) have been characterized as racially motivated by a local city councillor. These incidents occurred late on the night of March 31, affecting properties located around Templemore Avenue and Paxton Street. During the attacks, windows were smashed and graffiti was spray-painted on several homes. Although a family inside one of the affected houses escaped physical harm, including two young girls present at the time, they were reported to be deeply distressed. Authorities are investigating the possibility that these actions were hate crimes.

Brian Smyth, a Green Party councillor, highlighted that HMOs have increasingly become a focal point for online racist agitators aiming to spread anti-immigrant feelings. Speaking on The Nolan Show, Smyth noted, “HMOs have become the new battleground for several known online racist agitators to stir up anti-immigrant sentiment.” He expressed urgent concern that unless these attacks are halted swiftly, the situation could escalate further. Smyth also condemned the influence of “well-known racist accounts” that exacerbate tensions by targeting people based on their skin color.

While Smyth condemned the attacks and emphasized the community’s likely outrage, he also pointed to larger, underlying problems connected to HMOs. He stated, “HMOs are symptomatic of the failure of the Stormont Executive to build enough social housing.” Smyth urged for broader measures including rent caps and rapid expansion of social housing to address the housing crisis that fuels reliance on HMOs. His comments underscore a dual issue: both the immediate threat of racially driven violence and the structural housing challenges faced locally.

For context, an HMO is defined legally as a property occupied by three or more individuals from separate households who share common amenities like a kitchen. Converting a single-family home into an HMO requires planning permission, and all HMOs must be licensed by local councils in Northern Ireland, with operating an unlicensed HMO considered a criminal offense. Additionally, regulations limit the density of HMOs, typically allowing no more than 20% in specific areas and 10% elsewhere. Originally used primarily by students, HMOs have recently stirred controversy in the UK amid government efforts to disperse asylum seekers from hotels into such accommodations

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More