Six Bedroomed HMO plans for Hartlepool Home....

The plans would see the conversion of yet another perfectly good family home into a controversial House of Multiple Occupation, with locals saying "Enough is Enough"...

13th November 2025

Calls are mounting for Hartlepool Borough Council to accelerate its plans to bring Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) under full planning control, following yet another controversial application to convert a traditional family home into shared accommodation.

The latest proposal, lodged on behalf of Mr. J. Graham of Capital One Property Partners, seeks to transform a long-standing family home at No.5 Elwick Road in Hartlepool into a six-bedroom HMO. If approved, it would add to a growing number of such conversions in the town—developments that have already sparked public anger due to their perceived impact on the community, crime levels, and anti-social behaviour.

The applicant states that the property has been a single-family dwelling since the early 1900s, but under current Permitted Development Rights, it can be converted into an HMO without the need for a full planning application. This loophole has been widely criticised for allowing developers to pursue lucrative conversions with little local oversight.

In response to mounting concern, Hartlepool Borough Council has begun consulting on introducing an Article 4 Direction, a legal measure that would remove these automatic rights and require developers to seek full planning permission for HMO conversions. However, the consultation process is not expected to conclude until late 2026, leaving residents frustrated by the slow pace of change.

Local campaigners argue that waiting until 2026 is simply “too little, too late,” warning that the town’s already limited supply of affordable family rental homes could be further eroded in the meantime. Some residents fear that, if left unchecked, the rapid spread of HMOs could trigger a full-blown housing crisis, making it increasingly difficult for families to find suitable homes in Hartlepool.

Council officials are expected to make a decision on the latest conversion proposal early in the new year. But for many in the community, the issue is now about more than one application—it’s about the future character of Hartlepool’s neighbourhoods and whether the council will act fast enough to protect them.