Super-sized HMO plan kicked out by Corby Council

Complaints from neighbours and objections from officials has resulted in a plan to legalise the use of a huge shared house in Corby.

Local people had voiced serious concerns over the planning application for a 12-person house of multiple occupation in the town.

The privately-owned house had been used as a large HMO for some time but, after a law changed, all large HMOs must now have permission from the local authority.

The former family home had been converted into a nine-bed property which did not have planning permission and locals say it had been used for up to 18 residents at one time. Loud music, gatherings, discourteous parking and a litany of anti-social behaviour had contributed to fed-up neighbours objecting to the plan.

One of the objections said: "This area was a lovely place to live with families and couples living in peace and quiet without any worry of what was going on around them. Everyone knew each other to say hello and pass the time of day with each other. But recently we all live in the knowledge that were all just waiting for the next disturbance from any number of houses that have been bought and have now become HMO rentals.

"It has become a nightmare in this lockdown situation."

A report by Corby Borough Council officers said that an illegally-installed window unacceptably invades the privacy of a neighbouring property, adding: "The application has been assessed by environmental services in conjunction with the council's private sector housing service. The collectively object on the grounds that the premises do not currently benefit from adequate amenities in the form of bathrooms, toilets and kitchens for 12 people.

"In addition it is considered that the building lacks any significant associated external amenity space with those areas that are available shown as being devoted largely to car and cycle parking.

"With this in mind it is considered that currently the HMO does not afford its occupiers suitable living conditions and that consequently the amenities of both existing and future residents are being / would be unduly harmed.

"It is therefore recommended that this application is refused."

Highways officers also recommended the application be refused on road safety grounds.

The HMO owner will now have the chance to appeal the decision.

Corby Council did not respond to a request for comment.

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