New HMOs would 'change character of area', say residents

Applegarth Avenue will see more house shares after the applications were granted

Residents have raised concerns about the transformation of family homes into houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) in a Guildford street.

One councillor said plans for more house shares in Applegarth Avenue could "change the character of the area".

Guildford Borough Council approved four applications on 17 July for the street near the Royal Surrey County Hospital.

The road currently has 25 registered HMOs and two more pending.

“It has lost the heart of the street,” one resident, who has lived on the street for 20 years with his four children, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service before the meeting.

He added: “It used to be full of families, but now it’s just people who leave to go to work and come back again. Only one person says ‘hi’.”

HMOs are made up of multiple residents, often students or young professionals, who rent their bedroom and share living facilities.

Ward councillor Howard Smith said at the meeting it was the "number one issue" he heard about.

He added: “People are getting really tired of three-bedroom family homes being put up for sale and turned into HMOs.”

Mr Smith raised concerns they would “change the character” of the area and “lose the community” by making a street predominantly of groups of individual renters.

The council's leader, Julia McShane, said many of the perceived issues such as parking or anti-social behaviour were an issue in all areas and could be reported to the council.