Planning exemption proposals for garden cabins carry 'serious risks'

Housing minister James Browne said the Government is committed to exploring all routes to help to meet the 'urgent demand' for homes across the country.

Government proposals for planning exemptions for back garden cabins to use as homes carry “serious risks” and may have “unintended consequences”, a leading housing charity has warned.

Threshold said that substandard garden units could be rented out in the private rental market without appropriate inspections and protections in place, and could heighten the risk of elder abuse in such arrangements.