HMO operating without planning permission

Conwy has come under fire after it emerged a bed and breakfast is being used by the authority as a house of multiple occupation (HMO) for homeless people without planning permission.
Applicant Manhattan Rentals has submitted an application seeking to convert the Mayfair at 11 Deganwy Avenue in Llandudno from a hotel to an HMO.
Whilst the council had granted temporary permission for the building to be used as an HMO for the previous five years, this expired on 5 July 2022.
But the HMO is still running.
Now Llandudno councillor Harry Saville has criticised Conwy County Council, accusing the authority of having double standards.
“It’s disappointing that a building providing services for the local authority is operating without the correct planning permission in place,” said Cllr Saville.
“The council regularly takes enforcement action against unpermitted and inappropriate developments, and in this case, it could look as if it’s one rule for the council and one rule for everyone else.  I hope that Conwy Council will look at addressing this as a priority.
Typically, HMOs house tenants who share a bathroom and toilet and are often contentious topics in planning debates.
But a spokeswoman for Conwy County Council claimed that because the planning application had been submitted the HMO would be allowed to continue.
“Consideration of continued use of the property is currently the subject of a planning application,” she said.
“The planning application for change of use was registered in early May and was therefore in the system long before the temporary use rights ceased. As such, it is appropriate to allow consideration of the application and await the outcome, before considering enforcement action.”
The council is currently facing a homelessness crisis.
Earlier this year figures revealed Conwy had the fourth-highest number of people living in temporary accommodation in Wales.

By Richard Evans – Local Democracy Reporter