Sutton Council is set to enhance transparency in its planning processes by notifying residents of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) applications. The decision came after a debate at the Council meeting on 3 November 2025, where councillors discussed a motion regarding notification and planning expectations for HMOs.

The council acknowledged growing concerns among residents about the increase in HMOs and their impact on local communities. Issues such as parking, refuse management, noise, and local amenity were highlighted. Councillor Tony Shields initially proposed the motion, noting that HMO numbers in Sutton had risen by 34% between 2011 and 2021, and could double in the next decade.

The original motion called for written notification to be sent to all properties within a 100-metre radius of an HMO planning or license application. This would inform residents of the application and provide details on how to submit comments or raise concerns. The council intends to resume sending written notification to all properties within a 100-metre radius of an HMO license application address as soon as the Conservative austerity that forced this change is reversed.

An amendment to the motion, proposed by Councillor Jake Short, acknowledged resident concerns but also pointed out that licensing changes in 2018 made direct comparisons with earlier data misleading. The amendment also highlighted the development of an online notification system, which has increased participation in the planning process from Sutton residents, allowing them to be notified of any application they might be interested in anywhere in the borough, not just in their immediate area. The amendment to the motion noted that this system accompanied the change to stop written notifications.

The amended motion resolves to send written notifications when resources allow, and in the meantime, to encourage ward councillors to actively monitor planning applications and inform residents. The council resolved that ward councillors should see the active monitoring of planning applications in their wards, including those relating to HMOs, as an important part of their role in order to inform residents and provide details on how they can submit comments and raise concerns. It also commits to updating the council's HMO Licensing Policy to clarify that applicants are expected to seek planning consent before or alongside applying for a license. The council resolved that the Council's HMO Licensing Policy be updated to clearly state that applicants are expected to seek and obtain planning consent where required, before or alongside applying for a licence.

Councillor David Hicks noted that the Article 4 declaration was a unanimous decision of the Housing, Economy and Business Committee, including all Conservative members. He stated that there could be more done to tighten up the process to make sure that HMOs don't become commonplace, because people play the planning system to get them opened.

Councillor Eric Allen said that residents are fearful that once quiet residential areas will become blighted by the conversion of a neighbouring standard three-bedroom semi or terrace home into a four or six-bedroom house of multiple occupancy. He said that typically the first they learn about a potential HMO is when a planning application to extend upwards and or the conversion of garages into living accommodation is posted on a lamppost.

Councillor Tim Foster said that the motion suggests that the council's HMO licensing policy be updated, but that he doesn't think that goes far enough. He said that there is a constant conflict between licensing and planning, and that the council needs to set proper strategies in place to begin to manage real issues. The council resolved That the Council continues to ensures that, where a property is subject to planning enforcement action or a final enforcement notice has been served, this information is fully considered by the Licensing Team when assessing the suitability of any HMO licence application or renewal. This should include cases where the breach impacts the fit and proper persontest or the safety and suitability of the accommodation, in line with the Housing Act 2004 and all due process.

Councillor Peter Geiringer said that residents living within 100 meters of a proposed planning application for an HMO should be informed by letter. He said that in those rows with predominantly large family houses, and in order to retain the character of the road, the council should no longer allow them to be turned into HMOs.

Councillor Steve Alvarez said that some property developers are playing the system to sneak in HMOs through the back door. He said that he knows of two cases in Sutton where fake tenancy agreements and rent deposit certificates have been submitted by developers as evidence that a property already that property was already in use as a HMO when in fact it was a building site and uninhabitable.

Councillor Ed Parsley said that if you are one of our residents who is resident in an HMO you are just as worthy and just as capable of being a good neighbor as anybody else, and that the council's efforts should be directed at property developers and the process and not the people that live in these buildings.

Councillor Param Nandha said that residents have every right to know who is going to be the next door, and they want to ensure they and their children are safe. He said that the council should be working together to see what we can do to strengthen ourselves and make it either we employ more staff to go and check around because at present only one visit to during the license period.

Councillor Richard Clifton said that every active and hard-working councillor follows closely planning applications within their ward and seeks a dialogue with the residents about them. He said that if the council is doing their job, notification by the council is of a very limited value in some cases valueless.

The amended motion was carried.