News

Rising Concerns Prompt Review of HMO Regulations in Kent Town In a Kent administrative borough, the unprecedented escalation in the density of Houses in Multiple Occupation, denoted as HMOs, by an approximate percentage of ninety precipitates a re-assessment of extant regulatory instruments by local governance; the surge simultaneously instigates vehement debate regarding the nexus between these...

Plans Submitted to Convert Nine-Bedroom HMO into Family Home in Hove A nine-bedroom house in Hove, which functions as an HMO, currently sees its rooms linked in a dense dependency chain—house linked to location, location tied to history, and history bound to mid‑1970s university ownership—now transferred under private control. The property, three storeys arranged in a semi‑detached structure at...

Proposed Conversion of Five-Bedroom York House into HMO Sparks Planning Considerations A five-bedroom, end-terrace townhouse sits in a York conservation area; its walls, built in 1880, stand as head and dependents, each linking rooms to age and form. The proposal marks the conversion to an HMO; the idea links room with new use while keeping external shape intact and the conservation area near intact...

Planning Appeal for HMO Extension in Elmdon Rejected The inspectorate—agent of planning—dismissed the appeal; the appeal, retroactive, sought permission for an extension, and the extension, part of a house (HMO) in Elmdon, provokes a threat of enforcement. Background of the Extension and Appeal In 2024, in Solihull the authority granted planning permission; permission allowed a garage to convert and a...

Housing Supply Declines in Scotland Amid Continued Investment in Affordable Homes Recent statistical aggregates—which manifest in the Scottish market data, connect investors to HMOs and affordable residences, and impose a network of dependencies between supply metrics and fiscal interventions—demonstrate a contraction of new housing deliveries while concurrently registering a sustained governmental and...

Woking Council Proposes Extension of HMO Licensing to Smaller Properties Woking Borough Council, situated in the county of Surrey and responsible for municipal governance, currently contemplates—a proposal that redefines statutory licensing provisions—a comprehensive extension of licensing conditions traditionally applicable only to Houses in Multiple Occupation, in such a manner that even properties...

Wigan Council Moves to Tighten Rules on Houses in Multiple Occupation Across Borough Wigan Council acts. The council notes a rise in homes turned into HMOs and responds. Rule tightening unfolds now across the borough. Conversions, once confined to select zones, face new planning rules here. National law permits a tenant house change up to six unrelated persons without extra approval. The council, however,...

Council Tax on Second Homes Set to Rise Across England from April 2025 Council tax – second homes – increase. In April 2025, owners in England face a steep tax hike. A new statute empowers councils to add a premium of up to 100% on properties defined as second residences rather than primary homes. This regulation, through legal channels and administrative sanction, aims to adjust the residential supply...

Rising Numbers of HMOs Prompt Consideration of Stricter Regulations in Kent Town A Kent town sees a near 90% rise in HMOs. The growth brings safety concerns and weak community bonds. Local officials now weigh tougher rules. They plan new limits to keep HMOs in check. Growth of HMOs and Community Impact HMOs house two or more unrelated tenants. The setup shares rooms and baths. Once used mainly for student...

Landlord Fined for Operating Illegal House in Multiple Occupation in Bognor Regis A landlord in Bognor Regis ran a house without a license. The inspector found a three‐storey building. Five tenants lived there. The landlord admitted guilt. The court set a fine of £562. That fine covered a penalty, a fee for victims, and costs by the council. The record now holds a criminal mark. This mark stops the...