Bath and North East Somerset Council is taking action to address the growing concern over family homes being transformed into houses of multiple occupation (HMOs). At a full council meeting on September 18, councillors highlighted a “steady stream” of family properties, especially two and three-bedroom homes, being converted into HMOs — shared living spaces for unrelated adults.
As of 2021/22, Bath had 2,399 registered HMOs, reflecting the rising trend. To combat this, the council is proposing a new policy aimed at banning the conversion of three-bedroom family homes into HMOs where these properties could otherwise accommodate families or first-time buyers. This proposal forms part of the new local plan options set to be reviewed by the council cabinet on September 25 and is expected to be open for public consultation the following month.
Councillor Jess David (Moorlands, Liberal Democrat) noted, “Over the last six years, I have seen numerous planning applications seeking to convert family homes into HMOs, often resulting in the loss of living rooms to create extra bedrooms and sometimes expanding properties to large six-bedroom HMOs.” She emphasized that this ongoing trend worsens Bath’s housing crisis by shrinking the available stock suitable for families to rent or purchase.
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The Liberal Democrat group has also critiqued the financial implications, suggesting that the growth of HMOs leads to lost council tax revenue. Councillor Sarah Moore (Twerton, Liberal Democrat) stated, “Students living in HMOs are exempt from paying council tax. In a city like Bath, where many students live off-campus, this amounts to millions in lost revenue.” However, other councillors clarified that council tax exemptions apply to students regardless of property type, making the direct link between HMOs and lost council tax revenue less clear.
Labour group leader Robin Moss (Westfield) acknowledged support for the motion but described the argument connecting HMOs with council tax exemptions as a “slightly false analogy,” noting that not all HMO residents are students, and tax exemptions depend on the occupant’s status, not the property type. Councillor Grant Johnson (Paulton, Labour) added there were hundreds of non-HMO student-occupied properties exempt from council tax.
Joanna Wright (Lambridge, Green) cautioned against politicizing students’ housing, pointing out that many professionals also live in HMOs. She stressed the importance of avoiding politicized debates during the current pre-election period, a view echoed by others expressing concerns about the timing and appropriateness of the motion.
Despite some abstentions and debate about the procedural timing, the Liberal Democrat motion was passed overwhelmingly with 36 votes in favor and none against. The motion calls on residents to participate in the forthcoming consultation on HMO restrictions and requests additional government funding to offset the financial impact of a large student population exempt from council tax. This funding previously reflected student numbers but has been significantly reduced in recent years.