Ashford Borough Council have refused to issue a ‘Certificate of Lawful Use’ for another House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) in South Ashford. This follows a similar refusal in July of this year. These applications claim that the use as an HMO has exceeded the four year period within which the Local Planning Authority must start enforcement action. Again the Council have stated that “The evidence submitted in the application does not establish that, on the balance of probabilities, the building has been used as a large HMO for up to 7 people continuously since 2006″.
Although, since 2010, change of use from a house to a small HMO has not required planning permission, change to a HMO for more than 6 people still requires planning permission. Before 2010 change of use to any HMO required planning permission.