Wisbech faces issues from many house shares. New rules require permission, aiming for balance in housing & town quality.
New house shares need permission. This applies to any size in the town center. Fenland District Council makes these decisions. Next year, this will cover the entire town too.
Right now, small house shares usually don’t need permission. Small means up to six people. The council says too many house shares are bad for Wisbech. They made an order for the town center right away. Another order is coming for the rest of Wisbech later.
The order means you need permission for any new house share. This is for the town center right now. The other order starts in February 2026. A council member said Wisbech has enough house shares already.
A report says house shares are important. They offer cheaper housing in Fenland. The council wants to find the right balance. They want new homes, but also in the right places. They need good designs, too.
The council checked many things. They looked at housing, behavior, and old buildings. They also checked the town’s infrastructure. Too many house shares hurt Wisbech Riverside and Wisbech South. The area’s quality suffers from this.
The report says the council might have to pay developers. This is because of the immediate order. The other order has a year’s notice. Another council member thinks the rules will improve house shares. He said they need to meet many safety rules. This helps the area and the people living there.
One council member is worried about problems. He asked why these rules are not for the whole district. A housing member said this needs proof first.
The council asks people what they think of these changes. You can share your thoughts on their website.