Concerns over bedsit numbers in city

Residents say only 13 of the 33 buildings in Heathville Road are still family homes

People in Gloucester have raised concerns over how many large homes are being turned into bedsits.

A large number of homes in the Kingsholm and Wotton area have been converted into houses in multiple occupation (HMO) in recent years.

Earlier this month, Gloucester City Council gave the green light for a seven-bed home to be turned into a HMO on Heathville Road, a street where residents said more than half of properties were already rented room by room.

Residents are worried about losing the sense of community as more buildings are converted from family homes.

But housing experts in Gloucester said the city was an ideal place for HMO properties, especially for students and people who worked at the hospital.

Such properties helped those who cannot afford to rent a flat or house on their own, they said.

Suzanne Easton has lived next door to a house used as student accommodation for about 15 years.

She said most of the road was now student housing or HMOs which affected the "community feel" of the area.

"Everyone needs somewhere to live but you have to think about the families too, there has to be a balance and we have to get that right", she added.

'Supply chain problem'

Lettings agents in Gloucestershire say demand for all types of rental properties is high

Shannon Smith, lettings business manager at Andrews Estate Agents, said there was a supply and demand problem in Gloucester.

She said the core issues was there "aren't enough properties for the amount of people who want to rent".

The city council approved the plan for Heathville Road on 6 February. Officers said the scheme was in line with planning policy and recommended it for approval.

Councillor Alastair Chambers told the meeting there were more than 5,000 people on the housing waiting list in Gloucester. But he said most of the need was for social housing and a housing association would not take on such a large house.

Making it a HMO would provide an opportunity for young professionals and recent graduates to be able to afford to live in the city, he said.

The council has begun a survey to gather evidence about family homes being converted in the city.

This news was in part gathered the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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