New 8-Person HMO Stirs Surrey Community’s ‘Transient’ Fears

The Epsom and Ewell Borough Council has controversially approved an 8-person House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) on Cheam Road, Ewell, sparking significant concern among local residents. An HMO is defined as a property rented out by at least three people from different ‘households' who share facilities like kitchens and bathrooms. This specific application, transforming a former family home, has ignited fears that the traditionally “family-friendly community” is at risk of becoming a “transient community.”

Residents' primary concerns revolve around the potential erosion of their neighbourhood's character. They worry that a high turnover of tenants will prevent community integration, leading to a less stable and cohesive environment. A major point of contention is parking; the approved HMO provides only two parking spaces for eight residents, a situation residents believe will severely exacerbate existing parking pressures on the narrow residential road. Further anxieties include potential increases in noise levels, anti-social behaviour, and a decline in local property values, all stemming from higher occupancy and transient populations. Many residents also fear this approval will set an unwelcome precedent, encouraging more HMO developments and fundamentally altering the area's residential identity, especially after a 6-person HMO was previously approved on the same road.

Despite strong local opposition, the planning committee ultimately approved the application by a 7-3 vote. Committee Chair Cllr John Beckett noted the application met all planning requirements, making it legally robust. However, some councillors, like Cllr Clive Woodbridge, expressed reservations, questioning the genuine need for an 8-person HMO in this particular residential setting, suggesting such large-scale shared living might be more appropriate near university campuses or hospitals. The decision has left residents deeply disappointed, feeling their community's future and established identity have been undermined by the council's ruling.

(Source: https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/fears-surrey-family-neighbourhood-becoming-33193098)