New Darlington Council powers to control HMOs in borough

Council leaders have supported new planning guidance for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), which requires owners to apply for planning permission when converting properties. 

A HMO is defined as a property occupied by at least three people who are not from a single household but share facilities such as a bathroom and kitchen. Currently, properties for between three and six occupants can be converted without planning permission.

The new powers, known as an Article Four direction, will come into force on July 28. 

Darlington Borough Council admitted it does not have an accurate database of where all the current HMOs are located, as many have not previously required planning permission or a licence.

The new powers will provide the local authority with greater oversight of the scale of the issue across the borough after repeated complaints from residents, whose lives have been impacted by shared housing schemes on their doorsteps. 

Concerns previously raised include anti-social behaviour, noise and nuisance, living conditions and property standards, impact on parking, and poorly maintained properties.

Councillor Hilary Allen, Liberal Democrat member for North Road ward, said: “In the poorer areas of Darlington, the ones that are more densely populated, we are getting more requests for HMOs. I hope the council will take notice of that so that we don’t end up with a ghetto-type situation further down the road.”

As part of the council’s work on tackling HMOs, a supplementary planning document has been created to assist property owners, planning applicants, planning officers and elected councillors in preparing, commenting on and determining future planning applications. 

Chris McEwan, cabinet member for economy, said: “The council recognises that HMOs provide an important element of meeting the borough’s housing needs, particularly for people on low incomes, young professionals, students and the growing number of one-person households. 

“But at the same time, high concentrations of HMOs can present a challenge to creating mixed, balanced and sustainable communities and have an impact on residential character and amenity.”