Planning Inspector Denies HMO Appeal in Eastbourne
A planning inspector at 14 Rylstone Road in Eastbourne ruled against an appeal concerning an HMO that changed from a family home to a seven‐bedroom dwelling in late 2018. The property’s conversion, completed then, led to a planning application in May 2024 that the local borough council turned down because the accommodation failed to meet quality norms.
The borough council flagged that four out of the seven rooms lack direct access to natural light and a clear outlook, a finding that signals living conditions falling short of accepted standards. The inspector, after a detailed review of the council’s report, agreed with this general view while pinpointing one specific room—the rear basement room—as notably deficient in natural light.
In the decision, the inspector recognized that the overall living conditions and the state of shared spaces meet the expected level. Yet the deficiency in the basement room weighs heavily on the outcome, as its low light and poor exposure make the conditions doubtful for future tenants.
This result sends a strong signal to property investors in shared housing: strict adherence to local guidelines remains essential under ongoing scrutiny by local authorities. In summary, the ruling underscores that all parts of a property must fully meet residential standards to sustain successful occupancy in HMOs.
