The council aims to give residents and the local authority greater oversight on the conversion of family homes into shared housing. This move is intended to address concerns about the concentration of HMOs impacting parking, waste management, neighbourhood amenity, and the character of residential streets.
Under the proposed changes, landlords seeking to convert a residential property into an HMO for up to six occupants in designated areas will need to submit a planning application. This process will allow the council to assess the potential impact on the street and surrounding neighbourhood before any conversion takes place, and provide local residents with an opportunity to voice their opinions.
Councillor Vanessa Renshaw, Cabinet Member for Housing and Public Protection, stated that residents should have a say when significant numbers of family homes are converted into shared accommodation. She highlighted that while one conversion might not cause issues, multiple HMOs concentrated in the same streets can lead to increased parking competition, more waste, noise, anti-social behaviour, and a loss of family homes.
Councillor Jonathan Gullis, Leader of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council and Cabinet member for Planning and Town Centres, added that the council promised to act on the uncontrolled spread of HMOs and give local communities a greater say. He acknowledged the need for diverse housing types due to the presence of Keele University, the hospital, and major employers, but stressed the importance of balance.
If approved by Full Council on Wednesday, 25 November 2026, the new controls would take effect immediately for future conversions in the designated area. A six-week public consultation will follow, allowing for comments from residents, landlords, and other interested parties before the measures are confirmed within six months. These controls would not apply retrospectively to properties already operating as HMOs.
