A house in multiple occupation (HMO) for six in Welling could have its number of bedrooms and residents increased if Bexley Council approves it.
The authority has received an application to change the use of 120 Northumberland Avenue into an eight-person HMO.
An HMO (house in multiple occupation) is a property where several people live in separate bedrooms but share communal facilities such as kitchens or dining areas.
The house is already being used as a six-person HMO, with lawful use established under previous planning approvals.
Because Bexley has a borough-wide Article 4 Direction, planning permission is required to increase the occupancy to eight residents.
If approved, the property would provide eight bedrooms arranged over three floors, alongside shared and en-suite bathroom facilities, and a communal kitchen and dining area.
No new building works are proposed as part of the application.
The house was previously extended and had a loft conversion following planning permission granted in August 2024.
The ground floor would contain three bedrooms, a shared kitchen and dining space, utility areas, and bathroom facilities.
Three further bedrooms would be located on the first floor, with two additional bedrooms in the loft.
All eight bedrooms meet or exceed minimum space standards required for HMOs, according to planning documents submitted to the council.
The application states that the HMO will remain residential in character and would not result in more noise or disturbance than a large household living in the property.
The property would keep two parking spaces at the front and provide storage for eight bicycles.
Refuse and recycling bins would also be stored on site, with space allocated to accommodate the number of residents without blocking the pavement on collection days.
The planning statement highlights that the property is located within a sustainable development location in the Bexley Local Plan, with access to bus routes and both Welling and Falconwood stations.
It also argues there is no evidence of an over-concentration of HMOs in Northumberland Avenue and that the proposal would help meet demand for lower-cost rented accommodation in the borough.
The house is located in a primarily residential area and is not affected by conservation or flood-risk designations.
Bexley Council is expected to make a decision on the application no later than March 19.
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