ENFORCEMENT action could be taken after planners refused to confirm the lawful status of a city HMO.
The owner of a HMO (house of multiple occupation) in Tolladine Road had applied to Worcester City Council for a certificate of lawfulness.
But the council said there wasn’t enough evidence to show the property had been in “continuous and uninterrupted” as a HMO for 10 years.
According to the council’s private sector housing team, the property has been a five-bed HMO, licensed with the city council since 2015.
But planners said there were “notable gaps in tenancy evidence for the years 2016, 2017 and 2020”.
“The reliance on limited tenancy agreements and partial deposit documentation results in insufficient coverage across the full timeline.
“Although supporting statements (from the owner and tenant) and HMO licensing provide some weight, they are not sufficient on their own to conclusively demonstrate continuous occupation at the required level of intensity.”
Refusal to grant a certificate does not mean the HMO will always be unlawful – planning decisions can be appealed or the owner could choose to apply for full planning permission.
But the council may now choose to take enforcement action.
A Worcester City Council spokesperson said: “This matter will be investigated further by the Council’s planning enforcement team.”
