Reading seeks restrictions on converting homes into flats

Summarised from Reading Chronicle's report · Updated 5 Nov, 22:04 · Archive

Reading Borough Council is considering removing planning rights that allow family homes to be converted into homes of multiple occupation.

Reading Borough Council is considering imposing an Article 4 Direction to restrict the conversion of family homes into homes of multiple occupation (HMOs) across several areas of the town. The move aims to curb a large number of such conversions in Reading, where family properties have been increasingly converted into flats for individuals or shared housing with communal facilities.

The proposed direction would remove permitted development rights for conversions of houses into HMOs containing three to six unrelated people. The council already requires landlords to obtain a licence for HMOs of five or more people and introduced a discretionary licensing scheme for three to four person HMOs in May. The Article 4 Direction would apply to defined areas within Thames, Katesgrove, Redlands, Park, Church and Whitley wards, covering locations including properties around Katesgrove Lane and Sidmouth Street, the Orts Road estate, New Town, areas north of London Road, the Hexham Road estate, Northcourt Avenue, parts of Shinfiweld Road and Basingstoke Road.

Read the report

• Tougher restrictions could make conversion of family homes into flats more difficultTougher restrictions could make the conversion of family homes into flats more difficult across several areas of Reading.Reading Chronicle · 5 Nov, 16:00

In this story: Reading Borough Council · Reading · Thames · Katesgrove · Redlands · Park · Church

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