20 bank street Darwen
This HMO is within an article 4 area, which gives the council the power to restrict the quantity of HMOs. This makes applying for a new HMO planning permission virtually impossible, but on the other hand if you have a HMO within this area there is very little competition. In the past 20 years nearly all HMO planning applications had been declined (including ours 2 years earlier – 47 Bonsall St.).
However, as 20 bank street was already a C4 HMO (<7 tenants) and we planned to significantly improve the poor quality of accommodation, we were granted permission to change increase the occupancy, from C4 HMO to ‘sui generis’ HMO (7+ tenants). The property is 205m2 with good-sized bedrooms. We now have 8 large bedrooms, 3 of which are adequate for double occupancy. This property can now potentially house up to 11 people.
We carried out extensive renovation works to create a desirable shared living home environment with 8 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, lounge, kitchen and dining room. All rooms are furnished to a high standard making our tenants extremely happy with their new home.
