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A house in Llanbradach could be turned into a HMO, according to plans filed with Caerphilly County Borough Council.

Applicant Cejay Leitis is hoping to convert the property at 16 Lewis Terrace into a HMO (house in multiple occupation) for five people.

The building is currently a four-bedroom house.

HMOs are typically properties for individual adults who have their own bedrooms but share other facilities, such as kitchens, bathrooms and living areas.

In this case, plans submitted to the council propose converting a ground-floor lounge into a bedroom, and splitting a first-floor bathroom into two smaller shower rooms with toilets.

The layout of the building would otherwise remain largely the same, according to the plans.

The application is currently out for consultation, and can be viewed on the Caerphilly County Borough Council website under reference 24/0277/COU.

The concerns around HMOs

HMOs often lead to objections from neighbours and ward councillors because of the potential disruption they can cause.

The concerns raised are often social – such as the potential increase in antisocial behaviour – but these are not material planning considerations, which are needed to refuse an application.

A report published in May 2021 by Welsh Government said due to the nature of HMOs – residents on low incomes and/or from vulnerable group who are likely to be unrelated – they can be more “intensive” than single household use.

HMOs allow landlords to charge each tenant individually for rent; this set-up is useful for those who cannot afford to live in a self-contained home.

Additionally, the council pays landlords of HMOs to house those under the care of social services. Therefore, the money generated from a HMO is more than if the property was rented out to one family or household.