Neath Port Talbot Council is to look at whether it can fast-track a policy which would limit houses of multiple occupancy (HMOs) in areas across the county.
The local authority currently has no policy regarding HMOs which are increasingly becoming an issue for some communities.
Just last week two more HMOs received planning permission in Elba Crescent, Crymlyn Burrows, bringing the official total to nine in the same street.
However, residents have said there are actually far more with some not having been registered as HMOs.
They fear increasing studentification – Crymlyn Burrows is a stone’s throw from the new Swansea Bay University Campus – which they say is having a detrimental impact on the community’s character, social cohesion and family values.
Speaking at a planning meeting on Tuesday, June 11, where two applications for HMOs were considered, resident Mark Gregory said: “Student newcomers to an established neighbourhood often bring with them a different set of values to those of the host community.
“National research has suggested 10% of HMOs in an area is a general tipping point beyond which they can have an adverse impact on the character and balance of a community.
“Elba Crescent is currently at 15% and allowing two more HMOs will bring that figure to 20%.”
Other concerns raised included an increase in the number of lettings signs in the street that “create clutter and look unsightly” and give an “air of transience” to a neighbourhood, an increase in litter and rubbish, “major issues” with parking and the downgrading in appearance of the area as students are “far less likely” to look after the property.
One of the HMOs approved has plans to create five bedrooms while the other one will have four bedrooms.
While some councils have a policy restricting the number of HMOs in certain areas, Neath Port Talbot Council doesn’t, having adopted its local development plan one month before the new legislation requiring planning permission for HMOs came in.
However, the local authority’s head of planning Nicola Pearce said the council was looking at how it could introduce a policy without having to wait for an upcoming review of the local development plan which will take a few years to finalise.
The inside track on a new student development in Swansea:
She said: “Unfortunately it is a matter of timing that led to a lack of a policy in this case.
“A new policy would have to be evidence-based going forward because it will be critically examined by a planning inspector.”
The council is looking to see if it can include an HMO policy in supplementary planning guidance with Swansea City Council on Fabian Way.
Ms Pearce said while parts of Swansea City Council had a 10% HMO threshold, a number of other criteria had to be met including whether it would create harm and it had to be backed by evidence.
She encouraged residents to log justifiable complaints such as anti-social behaviour with the council to help a policy come forward.
She said: “At the moment there is a policy void and an evidence void.
“I’m not encouraging vexatious complaints but if you have a complaint that is justifiable, submit them and we will investigate them on your behalf.
“We can then build up the evidence and show that any additional HMOs in an area would exacerbate the existing problems.”
