As we have been out calling on residents across Twerton we have been finding and increasing number of HMO's ( Houses of multiple occupation ) that do not have planning permission.
planing permission and licensing ensures that the buildings are safe for multiple person occupation.
This is what the council says about HMO's and the requirements for planning permission and licences to run and HMO.
Following concerns about the high impacts of HMOs on the social balance and mix of parts of the city the Council decided to use its rights to exert greater planning controls in relation to Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in Bath. Anyone looking to purchase a family house in Bath that they might want to “buy to let” as an HMO is likely to require planning permission. Where there is already a high concentration of HMOs on the street they may be unlikely to obtain planning permission to change use to an HMO. The details of the policy that planning applications will be decided on is defined in the Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) on HMOs in Bath, available along with further information from www.bathnes.gov.uk/hmo
