Greenwich Council tightens HMO rules as three conversions face refusal on 27 Oct

Greenwich Council has adopted two new planning thresholds for houses in multiple occupation and will review three conversion proposals at its Local Planning Committee meeting on 27 October. The measures target properties that are too small or located in areas already dense with HMOs. Council officials say the changes aim to protect family homes while still allowing affordable shared‑housing options.

New planning thresholds introduced

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The first threshold sets a floor of 130 square metres of gross internal area for any dwelling seeking conversion to an HMO. Applications for homes below that size will be rejected outright. The second threshold limits new HMO permission where three existing or permitted HMOs are found within the ten nearest properties to the site. Both rules are now part of Greenwich’s emerging Local Plan and will be applied by planning officers when assessing future applications.

Three conversions slated for decision

The Local Planning Committee will consider conversion requests for 82 Bramblebury Road in Plumstead, 70 St Margarets Terrace also in Plumstead, and 12 Halons Road in Eltham. Planners have recommended refusal for each case because the properties do not meet the new 130 sqm minimum. The council’s recommendation also notes that the surrounding neighbourhoods already contain multiple HMOs, triggering the concentration limit. If the committee follows the planners’ advice, none of the three proposals will receive permission.

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Enforcement powers and potential fines

Cabinet Member for Planning and Development Tom Creswell warned that landlords who operate an HMO without a licence could be prosecuted under the council’s strengthened enforcement powers. The maximum penalty for an unlicensed HMO is set at £40,000, a figure intended to deter illegal conversions and protect tenants from substandard conditions.

“Where people refuse to play by the rules, we’ve strengthened our approach even further with new enforcement powers which could see landlords without an HMO licence hit with a £40,000 fine.”

Tom Creswell, Cabinet Member for Planning and Development

The Local Planning Committee will vote on the three applications at its 27 October meeting. Residents who wish to object can submit written comments to the committee before the meeting date, as outlined in the council’s public notice. Should the committee reject the proposals, the applicants may appeal to the Planning Inspectorate, extending the decision timeline. The council has not announced a date for any follow‑up meeting with the Local Voices on HMOs residents’ group.