Further to the concern raised by the application for a 38 bed HMO at the Aldwick Care Home at 41 – 45 Nyewood Lane we approached ADC with a Freedom of Information request for a comprehensive list of all currently licenced HMO’s in any postcode beginning PO2*, covering Bognor Regis and the surrounding area, 99 HMO’s in total.
The information provided was then converted into a Bognor Regis HMO map so the proliferation of HMO’s in Bognor Regis compared to the surrounding area is visibly clear. It represents all the HMO’s licenced by ADC in the PO20, PO21 & PO22 postcodes along with the rough boundary of ADC’s jurisdiction to highlight the over concentration in Bognor Regis.
Click here to view the Bognor Regis HMO map
It can be viewed / downloaded as a PDF here
By contrast there are only 34 HMO’s in the postcodes BN16 & BN17.
Click here to view the Bognor Regis & Littlehampton Combined HMO map.
The Arun Local Plan States under section 12.5 Houses in multiple occupation
12.5.1 In providing for the housing needs for Arun, it is important to ensure that mixed and balanced communities are developed so that situations where existing communities become unbalanced by the narrowing of household types towards domination by a particular type, such as shared housing, are avoided.
We believe the clustering of HMO’s on the maps for both Bognor Regis and Littlehampton demonstrate that section 12.5.1 has not been observed by ADC.
From the information provided by Arun District Council Bognor Regis now has 74% of all HMO’s licenced by them. A balanced distribution would roughly be 67 in PO20, PO21 & PO22 and 66 in BN16 & BN17.
The chances are that there are also many more properties being used as unlicenced HMO’s in our neighbourhood.
Did you know….
It is a criminal offence to operate a licensable HMO without a valid licence and landlords may face prosecution, receive a Civil Penalty Fine or a reduced licensing period in consequence of any breach found.
ALL properties must meet the required standards for Houses in Multiple Occupation as outlined in the ADC’s HMO Standards March 2019
Representatives from the Council will be proactively seeking out HMOs within the district.
If you suspect an HMO is operating without a licence or are concerned about the standards of an HMO, please contact ADC’s investigation team via:
Email: publichealth.housing@arun.gov.uk or by calling Arun Direct on 01903 737755
In the event you do report a suspected unlicenced HMO we have been asked by Bognor Regis Town Council that you also make them aware of the property you have reported on 01243 867744 or by Email: Bognortc@bognorregis.gov.uk.
If you wish us to make representations on your behalf to ADC please fill in the form to the right.
We will be forwarding this post to both BRTC and ADC.
