Neighbours say plans to convert a guesthouse into a house in multiple occupation (HMO) will increase noise, crime and cause a parking nightmare.
An application is in with City of York Council to convert 61 Bishopthorpe Road from Avondale Guest House into an HMO.
At present it has seven bedrooms with en suite. Under the proposal, the dining room will be converted into a bedroom and the smallest bedroom to a utility space and shower.
But nearby residents have hit out at the plans. More than 20 objections have been lodged to the application.
The next-door neighbours, a family with two young children, said the guesthouse “is quieter than a conventional home” as “guests use the rooms to sleep, have their breakfast and then leave the property”.
But if it becomes an HMO, “all of the downstairs space would be accessible to residents… significantly increasing the amount of noise”.
The rear courtyard is highlighted as a potential smoking area for the residents. “There is no doubt that the noise levels will increase as a result.”
They add: “Whilst we are aware that the landlord applying for the change in use owns a number of student lets across the city, including some in our local area, we believe that as long as there are seven separate households living in the property, noise will hugely increase, particularly in the outside space.”
Under the plans, the walled courtyard is earmarked for both bins and cycle storage.
This too has been criticised. “The outside areas are so limited they surely cannot support the necessary waste disposal and recycling facilities for the increased number of occupants,” one objector says.
“This shortfall would likely result in improper waste management, posing health hazards and contributing to unsightly conditions.”
Security is also a concern. One resident writes: “The proposed HMO would typically have a high turnover of residents resulting in a significant increase in the number of people with the security code for the rear security gates.
“We fear that this would put the safety and security of the street at risk.”
Another says: “Since the installation of alley gates the alley way is used by many young children to play in as it is a safe and secure space for them to do so.
“HMOs often attract anti social behaviour, by allowing a HMO you will be putting the safety of our children at risk.
“In the past there has been HMOs on this row, and we often had incidents of police being called, drug dealing and graffiti in the alley! These HMOs have now been changed back family homes.”
Parking is another concern. “Residents’ parking in this area is already oversubscribed and it is not uncommon to be unable to find a space within Zone R36, especially in the evening when residents have returned home from work,” a neighbour points out.
“Parking in adjacent zones on Southlands Road often results in a fine.”
Allowing the HMO with seven new residents would exacerbate the problem “and make parking nearly impossible,” another resident said.
You can read and comment on the planning application here.