Croydon Council has confirmed new rules to ensure that planning permission must be applied for before a family home can be converted into shared housing.
Until now, owners wanting to turn properties into small houses of multiple occupation (HMOs) with six rooms or fewer have been able to do so without planning permission under the Government’s permitted development rights.
At planning committee last night (Thursday 16 January), the council agreed to introduce a borough-wide Article 4 Direction, meaning that small HMOs for between three and six unrelated individual people must apply for planning permission. The council opened the proposals to public feedback last year after announcing the plans last January.
Research has identified a shortage of family homes in the borough, and over the past 10 years over 900 family homes have been converted into HMOs.
“The housing crisis in Croydon and across London needs a mix of homes, and that includes family homes. Although an issue across the borough, there are concentrations of HMOs in some areas so this Article 4 direction means that it will be harder to do this in future.
“This move will boost supply of decent housing for Croydon families, and it also means new tenants of small HMOs can be sure of better standards because their home has had to go through planning.”
Councillor Alison Butler, deputy leader and cabinet member for homes and Gateway services
For more information, visit the council website.
