Family home to be turned into HMO despite concerns

A house has been given permission to be turned into a seven-bed HMO

A family house is to be converted into a seven-bed house of multiple occupation (HMO) despite concerns from the community.

Developer Jital Umeria has been granted permission by Swindon Borough Council to convert 95 Stafford Street in Swindon, despite concerns over parking and bin storage.

Concerns were also raised over the number of low-quality, badly managed HMOs already in the town.

London-based Ms Umeria said the HMO would be of high-quality and "will force other landlords to improve their offer".

“There is a real need for housing for those aged 18 to 35 who cannot afford to buy a home of their own," she added.

Councillor Paul Dixon questioned whether there would be seven black bins, 14 recycling boxes and seven weighted blue bags in the property's front garden, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The plan had originally included nine bedrooms but they were revised to seven, with two rooms to be used as a home workspace and a home gym.

A neighbour said: “If two of the rooms are to be a gym and a home office, why do they still have en-suite toilets and showers when all the rooms are en-suite?

"They will be converted to bedrooms shortly.”

The committee meeting was told if the permission was for a seven-bed HMO, any increase in bedrooms would need new planning consent.

The plans were approved after council members, including councillor Gary Sumner and councillor Neil Hopkins, said they were constrained to approve the plans as it “ticked all the boxes”.

A condition about creating a bin store was added.