Families Before Profits as Council Introduces New Rules on HMOs

Lib Dem Sutton Council has implemented new measures to preserve the family-friendly character of its neighbourhoods by requiring planning permission for converting family homes into Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs).

Councillors on the Housing, Economy & Business Committee voted to introduce an Article 4 Directive, which will remove the Government’s automatic 'permitted development' rights for converting larger homes into small HMOs.

Permitted development rights, introduced by the Conservative Party in 2015, have allowed developers to get away with converting single family homes into HMOs without formal planning permission, bypassing community consultation and planning considerations.

In Sutton, the growing number of HMOs has raised concerns among residents about the impact on local infrastructure, parking, and the character of neighbourhoods. Responding to these concerns, Lib Dem-run Sutton Council used existing powers to remove the Conservatives’ poorly thought out permitted development rights,  culminating in yesterday’s decision.

Councillor Jake Short, Chair of the Housing, Economy & Business Committee, highlighted the importance of the move:

“This change is about safeguarding our neighbourhoods and prioritising the needs of local residents over private landlords' profits.

While HMOs can contribute to meeting Sutton’s housing needs, it’s important for the Council to strike the right balance by ensuring that new developments are appropriately located, maintain high standards, and do not place undue pressure on existing communities or services.

Requiring planning permission for new HMOs allows us to carefully evaluate how each proposal aligns with the needs of the borough. Thanks to our work, developers of HMOs now have to play by the same rules as everybody else."