Police give HMO warning after 'community tensions'

Police said

Police have warned beds should not be placed near windows in a new house of multiple occupation (HMO) in Cheshire because of "rising community tensions".

The warning comes after plans to transform a three-storey property on Victoria Road in Halton to house up to seven private tenants were rubber-stamped by the council.

In a submission to planners, Cheshire Constabulary warned there had been "high profile incidents in the Widnes area relating to HMOs".

These include people graffitiing and damaging the shared homes, and displaying 'No HMO' posters, the force said.

The force said: "These incidents have impacted the safety of the residents of HMOs in the area and caused significant demand on police and partner agency resources."

It has recommended that the applicant, Prescot-based Empire Investment Holdings, fits "robust doors and windows" in the HMO and not position beds away from windows.

"Windows could pose a significant risk of harm to the occupant if they were to be targeted whilst the occupant were in the bed," the police told planners.

Police said HMOs had been damaged amid local opposition to the shared homes

A report recently revealed there are more than 200 HMOs in the borough already.

Larger HMOs such as this require full planning permission, but smaller HMOs with a maximum of six residents do not.

An HMO is a property with individual bedrooms, but with some shared facilities such as kitchens or bathrooms.

Empire Investment Holdings said the rooms would be made available for private let and the building would be subject to regular and documented inspections.

The firm has submitted an HMO management plan which said references would be required for tenants and there would be tenancy agreements in place.