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To have handed the new owners the no more HMO letter from the council regarding the street.

195 replies

itsmeits · 17/04/2025 08:13

Thats it basically, new owners of down the road have been at the property this morning with the builder.
They politely introduced themselves, I welcomed them to the street and said look forward to seeing them around.

The Man then told me we won't see them as the house will be a HMO.
I asked do you not know there is an order no more HMOs on the street - did the estate agent not tell you, it's a protected area due to the amount of HMOs in the area. The 10% rule.

They both looked flabbergasted and informed me it would be a HMO.
Said I would be back in a minute, toddled back to mine printed the email (took out personal info) and handed them the information.
Pissed was not the word. I have been told I am lying and made this up. Advised they speak to councilort confirm the information.

YABU - leave them to - even though there is an order saying no more on the street.
YANBU - this information should be on the house listing when selling so potential buyers know.

OP posts:
PsychoHotSauce · 17/04/2025 11:21

itsmeits · 17/04/2025 08:35

This is it before thay pay a builder to start work and find out its a no.
His argument was but there is lots on this street in this area.
Yes I agree he's right. However there can be too many which is the case on the strett and area.

Not really a solid 'argument' when it's the very reason the council has said 'no more', is it Grin

ftp · 17/04/2025 11:19

Lovelysummerdays · 17/04/2025 08:37

They’d of needed to apply for HMO at some point. Personally I think it’s probably better they find out now before spend lots converting it.

They, or their solicitor, really should of done their research.

They could sue their solicitor if he knew that they planned an HMO

FairKoala · 17/04/2025 11:18

notacooldad · 17/04/2025 10:22

you managed to get your home printer to work that quickly?! Impressed
Blimey, how long does your printer take. Once I open a document from a phone I jist press print and it's do e pretty much instantly.

My printer is used so rarely that most of the time there isn’t paper in the machine. People have used it for other stuff so you have to find the box with paper in. The wire to plug it in has fallen behind the cabinet and then you find the ink has dried up.

Morningstarter · 17/04/2025 11:17

EmeraldRoulette · 17/04/2025 11:15

He should be talking to the solicitor so he's not very bright

I hope it works in your favour but I also wonder if the council have a solid rule or if they just told residents something to placate them.

hope you will update us.

Exactly!

on the phone to his estate agent! 😂

Morningstarter · 17/04/2025 11:17

Funnywonder · 17/04/2025 11:15

🤣🤣 What planet are you from? It happens ALL the time. The two biggest housing developers in our area are best mates with half the council. Same council members promised no more building on green belt land. We now live in a mini metropolis and more land is being dug up as I type. I can see it from my window - where there used to be fields. It’s the world’s worst kept secret that brown envelopes are changing hands regularly. My sister worked in a timber importer’s and the boss’s brother was on the local council. She saw, heard and even typed stuff that was definitely not through the proper channels.

Shame she never whistle blew

Funnywonder · 17/04/2025 11:15

Morningstarter · 17/04/2025 10:52

Oh don’t be daft

in South Africa possibly

not the uk

🤣🤣 What planet are you from? It happens ALL the time. The two biggest housing developers in our area are best mates with half the council. Same council members promised no more building on green belt land. We now live in a mini metropolis and more land is being dug up as I type. I can see it from my window - where there used to be fields. It’s the world’s worst kept secret that brown envelopes are changing hands regularly. My sister worked in a timber importer’s and the boss’s brother was on the local council. She saw, heard and even typed stuff that was definitely not through the proper channels.

EmeraldRoulette · 17/04/2025 11:15

itsmeits · 17/04/2025 08:48

I have checked the listing it says ideal family home. Nothing about can't be a HMO on it.

He's on the phone to the estate agent now. Not a happy bunny. Woman has thanked me for the knowledge, the builder has left.
House is going back on market from what she has just said.

He should be talking to the solicitor so he's not very bright

I hope it works in your favour but I also wonder if the council have a solid rule or if they just told residents something to placate them.

hope you will update us.

Latenightreader · 17/04/2025 11:08

Mumofteenandtween · 17/04/2025 09:09

I wonder if they didn’t tell anyone pre purchase that they were planning on the HMO. I suspect that an offer under asking price from Mr and Mrs Lovely with the baby on the way will be greeted far more positively than the same offer from people who are trying to make as much cash as possible from the house.

When I sold my house the couple lied and said they were buying it for their daughter. Turned out they were buying it to rent out. I was more angry that they had lied than that they were renting it out, and I needed to sell, but yes they were appealing buyers because I lived the house and wanted it to be a lived home going forwards. Hopefully it is to the renters.

Aprilweather · 17/04/2025 11:04

Of course it happens in local councils. Corruption exists

Morningstarter · 17/04/2025 11:02

Blackdow · 17/04/2025 10:59

um.. I worked for my local council… definitely does happen in the UK.

Your local council in South Africa 10 years ago!

and if in the Uk…. You were aware of this and didn’t whistle blow?

Morningstarter · 17/04/2025 11:02

Seeline · 17/04/2025 11:01

We weren't even allowed to accept a box of chocolates for Christmas at my Council.
It really doesn't happen - and it certainly wouldn't for an HMO! Major city centre re-development would be the only thing worth risking your career and freedom for!

It doesn’t happen, aside from in the vivid imaginations of some

TonTonMacoute · 17/04/2025 11:01

SnoozingFox · 17/04/2025 08:42

I don't think you are reasonable or unreasonable. You have given them the information, their pissed-off-ness or the estate agent's competence is nothing to do with you. It's for the owners to take up with their lawyer/estate agent. And for the council to enforce.

This.

Leave them to it, but I would definitely be informing the council about their plans!

Seeline · 17/04/2025 11:01

Blackdow · 17/04/2025 10:59

um.. I worked for my local council… definitely does happen in the UK.

We weren't even allowed to accept a box of chocolates for Christmas at my Council.
It really doesn't happen - and it certainly wouldn't for an HMO! Major city centre re-development would be the only thing worth risking your career and freedom for!

thecatneuterer · 17/04/2025 11:00

ExtraOnions · 17/04/2025 08:18

Does it not depend on the size of the HMO? Some are subject to planning, and some are not.

Not necessarily. Depends on local regulations. For example ALL HMOs in Newham require planning consent.

minnienono · 17/04/2025 11:00

Remember they can rent to a single family or 2 individuals typically. Most councils define hmo as 3, 4 or even 5 unrelated individuals, my area it’s 4 or more sharers

Blackdow · 17/04/2025 10:59

Morningstarter · 17/04/2025 10:52

Oh don’t be daft

in South Africa possibly

not the uk

um.. I worked for my local council… definitely does happen in the UK.

Whynotaxthisyear · 17/04/2025 10:53

You were right to give them the email. They can check out whether it applies to their plans.

Morningstarter · 17/04/2025 10:52

Alwaysinamood · 17/04/2025 10:50

Probably given someone in the council a back hander!!! It sadly does happen!

Oh don’t be daft

in South Africa possibly

not the uk

MuddlingMackem · 17/04/2025 10:52

TucanPlay · 17/04/2025 08:50

Well done! As a person who is "sandwiched" in an area that has been flooded with HMOs for students, it's good you told them. I got vicarious satisfaction from reading that.
I like students, and having young people around, and I don't object to HMO's. It's about balance. My neighbourhood has been turned into a student campus, sadly the council didn't introduce the sandwich rule until after HMO licenses had been granted to the houses either side. This impacts the value of my house, all because of greedy HMO landlords, and a Uni that keeps enrolling more and more students every year.

I know someone who lives in Durham who has said this is a huge issue in the part of the city she lives. 🙁

Alwaysinamood · 17/04/2025 10:50

Probably given someone in the council a back hander!!! It sadly does happen!

Blackdow · 17/04/2025 10:50

PhatGurlSlim · 17/04/2025 10:45

What is an HMO? I googled but didn't find anything. I can kind of guess from the posts, but would be grateful for clarification.

Um, what did you google? It literally comes up right at the top of google.

To have handed the new owners the no more HMO letter from the council regarding the street.
Morningstarter · 17/04/2025 10:47

BacktoBeginnersFran · 17/04/2025 10:45

Ah!! I see you're just here to try put down the OP with your nitpicking

It is not the EA’s fault so my advice is don’t bother pursuing them with this
the buyers should have researched if they purchased for this purpose

Morningstarter · 17/04/2025 10:46

BacktoBeginnersFran · 17/04/2025 10:44

Does it matter? Confused

Just curious
given the op “toddled” back to hers
it looks like the op was over there for some reason…. Welcoming them? I wonder

Badbadbunny · 17/04/2025 10:45

Pluvia · 17/04/2025 10:21

I'd call the council right now and tell someone to get round there while the builder and the new owners are there.

Hilarious. It's the day before a bank holiday weekend during a school holiday. It's nigh on impossible to get anyone out urgently from our local council at the best of times. The department at our local council probably wouldn't even answer the phone today, let alone send someone out immediately.

Morningstarter · 17/04/2025 10:45

You rent OP?

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