TORY shadow housing minister Grant Shapps has hit back in a row over new powers to control shared houses in Southampton.

He pledged a Conservative Government would “ensure that Southampton City Council has all the powers it needs to manage” them and said it was untrue for Labour candidates Alan Whitehead and John Denham to suggest otherwise.

Mr Shapps defended a motion signed by David Cameron which attempted to revoke new legislation requiring blanket planning consent for houses in multiple occupation (HMO) saying Tories were concerned it was “rushed through and incompetently drafted”. He said it would result in excessive red tape and rent hikes.

“We would allow councils to identify areas in their own local plans where there is a saturation of HMOs, and then be able to require planning permission in these areas,” he said.

Commons records suggest Mr Whitehead had previously backed a Conservative style approach rather what he called an “excessive regulatory regime” across the country.

Mr Shapps added: "I fully support our parliamentary candidate Jeremy Moulton and the excellent work he has done to highlight the issue of houses of multiple occupation in Southampton."