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Search the Public Notice PortalAn existing HMO in Bexleyheath could increase its number of residents to eight, but only if the council approves it.
Bexley Council has received an application seeking permission to change the use of the property at 65 Arbuthnot Lane from a house in multiple occupation (Use Class C4) for up to five occupants to a larger HMO for up to eight residents.
An HMO is a property where residents have their own bedrooms but share facilities such as kitchens, bathrooms, and living areas.
They are commonly used by young professionals and other renters seeking lower-cost, room-based accommodation.
READ MORE: Plan for seven-bed HMO in Bexley REFUSED for being ‘too intensive’
If approved, the two-storey detached property would change internally, with the conversion of the attached garage and the addition of a rear conservatory, to create accommodation for up to eight residents.
The plans say the home has been designed with more space than the minimum required, meaning future residents would have comfortable rooms and decent living standards throughout.
From the outside, the property would barely change as there are no major alterations planned, and it would still look like a normal family house from the street.
Importantly, no new windows are proposed that would overlook neighbouring homes, so privacy for nearby residents would stay the same.
Inside, the house would include shared kitchen and living spaces for all occupants, along with access to the existing rear garden, which is around 100 square metres in size.
The site is also in a well-connected location, within walking distance of Bexleyheath town centre, as well as nearby bus routes and rail links. Because of this, the application argues residents would be less likely to rely on cars.
Cycle storage for up to eight bikes would be provided in the rear garden, encouraging greener travel options.
No extra parking spaces are being added, and the application says this is because people living there are expected to own fewer cars than a typical family, due to the strong transport links.
Bins and recycling would stay in the same general setup, with storage kept in a screened area at the front of the property and managed through a formal waste plan to keep the frontage tidy.
The plans also state that there are not too many HMOs in the area, claiming this change would not tip the balance or change the character of Arbuthnot Lane.
To manage the property, a professional landlord or management company would be responsible for the building, with regular inspections and a 24-hour contact number available for neighbours if issues arise.
The application says the number of occupants is similar to a large household. It also proposes sound insulation where needed, to reduce noise passing between rooms and neighbouring properties.
Bexley Council will now review the application and decide whether the change of use can go ahead.
A decision will be made no later than July 31.
