Houses in Multiple Occupation: planning requirements

Planning guidance

Where a proposal would create a new House in Multiple Occupation (HMO), regard will be had to any potential adverse impacts which may be caused by the proliferation of HMOs on the local environment, including exacerbation of parking problems. Where there is evidence that such proposals are likely to cause unacceptable harm to the local environment, including adverse impacts on the character or amenity of an area, proposals will be resisted.    

In particular, proposals which would create new HMOs will only be permitted where the following criteria can also be met:

• The proposal would not lead to the creation of three or more adjacent HMO properties.
• The proposal would not lead to ‘sandwiching’ of a residential property between two HMO properties or a HMO and a non-residential property.
• The proposal would not lead to more than 10% of the properties within a 50m radius of the development site being used as HMOs.

Where a new HMO is proposed which will include 17 or more individuals living in one dwelling, the Council may seek to secure Planning Obligations to mitigate any impacts on local facilities and infrastructure identified as being generated by the proposal.

When submitting a planning application which involves the creation of a new HMO, applicants should provide their own assessment of how their proposals meet the requirements of this guidance.