Landlord told to get planning permission over eight-bedroom HMO in Stoke Gifford

A landlord company has been told by South Gloucestershire Council to get planning permission for an eight-bedroom HMO at a town house in Stoke Gifford.

Under current planning policy, landlords do not need planning application for an HMO with up to six bedrooms - however, Walden Estates Limited had increased the size of its HMO in Jellicoe Avenue from six to eight bedrooms without permission.

The Clifton-based company has subsequently lodged a planning application with South Gloucestershire Council for the change of use of the house to an HMO.

The property is a three-storey town house with four parking spaces. It is in an area with a high concentration of HMOs which could be subject to a change of planning rules restricting rights of homeowners to convert houses into HMOs.

In a supporting document for the planning application, the company’s planning agent said the house was turned into a six-bedroom HMO before it was bought for £450,000 in 2019.

The agent continued: “The house was subsequently sold to the present owner who carried out additional works and installed facilities increasing the accommodation to an eight-bedroom layout with all requirements under current building regulations being carried out and have been approved the local authority.

“The owner has now been contacted by the local authority who have confirmed that as the development is now eight units, planning approval should have previously been applied for this use.”

The agent concludes: “It is considered this change of use will provide a sensitive development and not effect or be detrimental to the local enivonrment or amenty visually or physically.”

The application comes at a time the council is considering bringing in changes to planning rules which would see landlords in areas of Filton and Stoke Park, which includes Jellicoe Avenue, need permission to convert homes into HMO, no matter the size.

A summary for the consultation, which ended in March, said areas of South Gloucestershire had seen high concentrations of HMOs, which had led to concerns over parking, management of waste and recycling, and antisocial behaviour.

The planning application can be viewed at https://beta.southglos.gov.uk/search-planning-applications by using the reference number P22/02469/F