AIBU to object to a large co-living dwvelopment near my home?

My dd is moving back up to the north east, she’s a couple of years post graduation from Newcastle. Quite a few of her friends have spent a year or so in a place like this while they sort out a shared house/after a house share fell through etc.

renting can be tricky if you don’t have a job because you are doing masters or PhD and not everyone always wants to share.

the rooms are small but they have an en-suite and a little kitchenette and honestly they’re better than most student rooms. The ones that I’ve seen (mostly near jesmond) haven’t had any parking because people cycle or walk and metro.

obviously I’m not familiar with Sunderland but there are ones in the north east that have grad students /overseas students/people in their first job.

my mum offered to buy my dd a flat but she rejected because she didn’t know if she’d end up in Newcastle long term.

You may not be eligible. I think the whole point is young professionals being together with similar demographic not a bunch of low income randoms. I think there are other resources for those fleeing DV.

Im using it as an example, if you scour rentals for Sunderland you'll see the place is overburdened with cheap, nice room, flat and house rentals, you can take your pick. You can choose one with an ensuite if you so wish

Im suspicious of why people seem to be gaslighting the OP about this.

Because a joint tenancy will be longer term. Plus you need to know someone. The co living place dd lives in you can sign up for just a month. She knew nobody when she moved to that city. The coliving has been a massive social thing for her.

Most rooms in a house share aren’t en suite and she won’t share a bathroom.

No. This sounds a great idea. Wish they had something like that when I moved away for a new job when I was young.
Would you not want this type of set up for your own kids rather than high rent and no support after graduating.

In Sunderland?

Or Lunderland?

Im a Londoner but it irks me considerably that people always, in any thread about anything, say 'well it works in London'

London is unlike most other cities in this country.

Well several of my colleagues do. They're all 3rd sector workers, just starting out (under 30) and cant afford to buy. The lack of parking wouldn't bother most of them as they cycle places rather than drive because its more environmentally sustainable.

I think they get round it by having each room with an ensuite and kitchenette area. So technically all in one

But of course you're literally sleeping in the kitchen.

Room shares are no notice, virtually.

Theres lots of flat rentals for 6 months though in reality

I've visited a nice Hmo like this that friends lived in. I wouldn't have a problem with that.
Where i live there are lots of developments that start as over 60s etc, and are now half way houses. Crime and drugs are substantial.
I want to move

@Mathsdebator I’d suggest contacting your local councillors directly, as well as formally objecting to the planning application. The question that I would ask would be whether the development would be classed as a HMO despite being called a ‘co-living development’ as I think the HMO definition is ‘four or more unrelated people living together and sharing communal facilities’, though you’d need to check that. If it is going to be classed as a HMO, then ask if it will it be subject to the same regulations and licensing.

The area where I live is near a university, so we have a few HMOs on our street (had no noise/ trouble so far but it does put pressure on parking spaces). However, my council has put in restrictions on the number of HMOs allowed in the area, so no further properties can become HMOs if there’s already a few nearby, which they did because of the number of family houses being converted to HMOs. It may be worth asking your councillors if this is something the council could consider bringing in.

It suits developers ,only one lot of council tax and lots of people paying rent , down south where I live some of these rooms are £750 a month inc bills 6 people in what was a 3 bed terrace house extended to permitted development .

@Mathsdebator yanbu, you know your area. You raise your objections and be proud of standing up for your area: if they’re unreasonable they won’t prevent the development, and maybe you’ll be reassured it’s a good idea after all. Really unfair to accuse you of racism/classism.

Because most rentals used to require a 12 month tenancy, and doctors rotations, for example, are often 6. Renting for 12 and paying for 6 you’re not going to use, along with council tax and bills then doubling up when you more to your next rotation isn’t a very attractive option for many :)

Who said anything about buying, you can get a rental for under 400 a month, room or joint tenancy

What on earth would young professionals need to use a development like this?

Even shop workers/cleaners/NMW staff can afford a rental in Sunderland, its not expensive.

Cheap houses are no use if you’re need to move locations every 6 or 12 months earlier in your career, as many doctors do. Or those on graduate training programmes perhaps, who don’t want to buy in the location they’re working?

You are being prejudiced OP.
I am sure that the planning application will have explicit details of building proposal.

And people who can’t afford Durham and Newcastle prices will live in Sunderland and Hartlepool to save money. I know someone who works in Durham but moved to Sunderland. There will be professionals. I admit I don’t know Sunderland well but I used to live in Middlesbrough so have some idea.

What an awful country we are. Won't building housing for the next generation. Then object to HMOs which are a consequence of the housing crisis.

A lot around here, in London. I don’t think anyone’s going to be interested that there’s a local primary school. Residents take priority.

FYI, London isn't Sunderland. Experience of something in London does not translate to the same thing in Sunderland.

Hth

You can object, but in my experience it doesn't make the slightest bit of difference. In the past 5 years there have been over 2000 homes built within a 3 mile radius of my town. Every application had tons of objections, but it doesn't matter. It's merely a box ticking exercise for a development that is going to happen regardless.

There's places like this in London - like at Old Oak. Don't think there is any particular trouble at them, they are for young professionals

But they can't scrutinise that way

You have no idea who the landlord is going to rent to - that's it.

We know someone who son lives in a similar set up he's a trainee accountant. But his is a converted office building on a High Street. He's saving up to buy and he just says he doesn't really want to know any of the neighbours works very long hours and tends to hang around at his parents at the weekend.