Swale Council has urged private landlords to take part in a consultation about introducing tougher rules for HMOs including around room sizes and the number of parking spaces.

It has drafted a supplementary planning document (SPD) which sets out clear guidelines for HMOs to manage their impact on communities and provide higher living standards.

Proposals aim to make sure that there is enough on-street parking available for existing and future residents, a report explains. Parking should be available at a rate of 0.66 car parking spaces per bedroom, meaning that a three-bed HMO would need two spaces.

Rules

It would also lay down rules about concentration levels and says: “Unless it can be demonstrated that an additional HMO beyond the 10% threshold can be comfortably accommodated within an area, it is probable that a proposal to introduce a further HMO will be found to cause the undue undermining of an existing residential character.”

Councillor Tim Gibson, chair of the policy and resources committee (pictured), says it aims to address residents’ concerns about HMOs, while making sure it can provide important affordable housing.

Dispersed

“This includes making sure they are dispersed, that the character of our communities is preserved and that better living conditions are provided for our residents,” adds Gibson. “We will be making sure room sizes are liveable, there is enough space for waste storage and that adequate parking is provided.”

Landlords don’t currently have to get planning permission to convert houses into small HMOs in the borough, however, the council adds that it has asked that steps are taken towards making an Article 4 direction.

It admits that identifying HMO numbers is problematic but reckons there are at least 126 HMOs within the Swale borough - an increase of 51 in the last five years.

The consultation runs until 29th April.

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