Policy T8: Houses of Multiple Occupation

Comment

Representation ID: 1780

Received: 15/07/2024

Respondent: Mr Colin Harris

Any new HMO applications must include provision of waste storage and ideally external storage areas for bicycles, etc. Including a requirement for solar panels would helkp towards net zero.

Comment

Representation ID: 1908

Received: 07/08/2024

Respondent: Peter Chatwell

HMOs are awful for society, driven by greed from slum landlords. They should be permitted a temporary license to exist only for a short period of time, with the licensing cost being onerous and borne by the landlord. Lewisham's scheme is a good move in that direction.

Comment

Representation ID: 2060

Received: 26/08/2024

Respondent: Mr Cllr George Perfect

Consider proximity to transport links and local links etc.

Comment

Representation ID: 2401

Received: 04/09/2024

Respondent: Mr John Conner

Agree

Comment

Representation ID: 2931

Received: 06/09/2024

Respondent: Mrs pat cooper

Agree this . Some however have tried to get round the rules.
Tenants of some HMO's have been reported for Anti Social Behaviour .

Comment

Representation ID: 3011

Received: 06/09/2024

Respondent: Mr robert fynn

Agree . HMOs if not managed properly can lead to all sorts of problems.
Again parking can be one of the main ones of concern to many cars for the road.

Comment

Representation ID: 3069

Received: 06/09/2024

Respondent: Mr Anthony Rees

Yeah great, so we will have a lot of illegals doing illegal criminal activity with this option, well done

Comment

Representation ID: 3181

Received: 07/09/2024

Respondent: Arches Chatham Neighbourhood Forum

In response to question 14, the adopted Arches Chatham Neighbourhood Plan defines the threshold for an over-concentration of HMO as:

‘20% HMO on the road of the planning application, ensuring that only 1 out of a consecutive row of 5 units is converted to C4. Two C4s should not adjoin and no C3 property should be sandwiched between two HMO.’

This threshold was developed by reviewing successful policies of other LPAs, such as Enfield Council and Oxford City Council. We recommend this approach and welcome any criteria that goes further.

Comment

Representation ID: 3270

Received: 07/09/2024

Respondent: Mrs Yvonne Forrest

AGREE

Comment

Representation ID: 3547

Received: 08/09/2024

Respondent: Mr John Williams

A Good supply of HMOs is a valuable resource but must be of Good quality and monitored closing and even spread throughout the Towns

Comment

Representation ID: 3758

Received: 08/09/2024

Respondent: Mr Bryan Fowler

Some HMOs are very well managed, others not. There should be a register of all HMOs and a waste policy adopted for each of them. HMOs should be not be allowed in Conservation Areas and the relevant statue applied.

Comment

Representation ID: 3822

Received: 08/09/2024

Respondent: Miss Rachael Selleck

I disagree with the overdevelopment of HMOs (Houses in Multiple Occupation). While having one HMO in a housing estate may be acceptable, an excess of them can lead to overcrowding, strain on local services, and parking issues. HMOs often lack long-term community investment, disrupting neighbourhood cohesion. Many people use HMOs because they cannot be approved to rent a full property, which can lead to these accommodations being used by individuals involved in criminal activities, illegal immigrants, or those evading proper checks. It's essential to maintain a balance to ensure neighbourhoods remain safe, vibrant, and sustainable for all residents.

Comment

Representation ID: 3871

Received: 08/09/2024

Respondent: Mrs Maureen Wade

Council should avoid HMOs at all costs. Many of the housing stock in Medway has been converted into HMOs whether licenced or not. Most are to be found in run down areas with high deprivation. I believe if this type of housing is detrimental to the sustained enhancement of Medway. I have known people living in these properties and they are unpleasant places to live with many 'undesirable' tenants and landlords.