Newport property owner fights to keep house as HMO
The owner of the property on Caerleon Road in Newport, has lodged a certificate of lawfulness application to keep using the property as a six-person HMO.
A planning statement prepared by LRJ Planning Ltd claims the property has been continuously used as an HMO since July 2014.
This predates a February 2016 planning rule change, which classified smaller HMOs under Use Class C4.
The application, made under Section 191(2) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, argues the use of the property as an HMO is lawful based on the balance of probability.
The evidence submitted includes statutory declarations from both the current and previous owners, as well as HMO licences dated July 27, 2017, December 11, 2019 (draft), January 20, 2020, and February 18, 2025.
An email also states the original HMO licence was issued in July 2014.
The application also includes rent payment summaries, council tax liability records, utility bills, and tenancy agreements, all dating back to 2019.
The planning statement concludes that the cumulative evidence proves the property has been lawfully used as a C4 HMO since at least July 2014, and remained in that use through the relevant regulatory change in February 2016.
The application is asking the Local Planning Authority to issue a certificate of lawfulness confirming this status.
A decision date has not yet been provided.
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