A Warrington Councillor has called for stronger protections for residents living next to properties being converted into houses in multiple occupation, following repeated concerns about damage, disruption and the treatment of neighbouring homeowners.
Councillor John Roddy, who represents Bewsey & Whitecross, said that while new planning controls for HMOs in Warrington are welcome, they will not, by themselves, prevent damage being caused during construction work or ensure that affected residents receive prompt repairs.
In one case in his ward, an internal party wall was damaged in three separate places during December, in the middle of a particularly cold period.
The damage caused serious draughts, security concerns and considerable distress for the adjoining resident. Despite repeated communications and requests for action, repairs are only now being addressed several months later.
Cllr. Roddy said: “Residents should never have to endure damage to their homes, cold draughts and concerns about their personal security simply because the property next door is being converted into an HMO.
“In many cases, these conversions involve extensive internal alterations, the creation of additional bedrooms, bathrooms and toilet facilities, as well as extensions and roof alterations.
“Whatever the scale of the work, developers and contractors have a clear responsibility to ensure that neighbouring homes are properly protected.”
From September, stronger planning controls will require more HMO conversions in Warrington to obtain planning permission.
Cllr. Roddy welcomed the change but warned that planning permission does not remove the risk of damage during construction. Disputes over repairs can still be treated as private civil matters, leaving residents to pursue developers themselves.
He is calling for complaints about developers and contractors to be properly documented, shared between relevant council departments and investigated where appropriate.
Concerns about the conduct of developers should be formally recorded, shared between relevant council departments and taken into account wherever they are legally relevant to future planning, enforcement and HMO licensing decisions.
John Roddy
“They will provide greater scrutiny before an HMO conversion begins, but they will not automatically prevent damage during construction or guarantee that residents receive prompt repairs when something goes wrong.
“At present, too much of the burden falls upon the innocent neighbour.
“We need a system in which complaints are taken seriously, council departments communicate with one another and developers are held accountable for damage caused by those working on their behalf.
“Residents should not be left cold, insecure and distressed in their own homes while a developer delays, denies responsibility or refuses to engage.
“No development or property conversion should be carried out at the expense of the safety, security and property rights of the people living next door.”
