A local resident has launched a petition against plans to create an "unlicenced" House in Multiple Occupation (HMO).

The resident - who asked not to be named and will be referred to as Ms A - told Kingston Nub News the Westbury Road property has been vacant for two years and is a "lovely" Victorian building.

She says the home is to be turned into an eight-bed HMO.

"The landlord's been trying to sell it but wasn't having any success selling it," she claimed.

"And then a few weeks ago, these builders just turned up and start completely gutting the whole house.

"They've just stripped the whole thing out."

Work has already begun on the property (Credit: Tilly O'Brien)

Ms A says she asked the builders if they were turning the property into studios, but they told her that they are converting it into a six-bedroom HMO, which she thought was "not great" because the property is between her and her neighbour's homes.

Ms A was also concerned about the number of bedrooms the new HMO will have as Kingston Council's Mandatory Licensing Scheme for HMOs states "any property with five or more unrelated occupiers, forming more than one household and sharing amenities" need a license to operate.

However, she says she was later told by two local councillors the plan is to have four bedsit rooms in the ground floor flat (26) and four bedsit rooms in the first floor flat (26A).

This means neither flat will require an HMO license.

On this, Ms A said: "So the HMO is actually going to be eight separate rooms, but because it's technically in two flats, literally upstairs and downstairs with separate entrances, they're getting away with putting in eight rooms and they don't have to have a license.

A planning application, submitted to Kingston Council last month (June) by SAM Planning Services, merely seeks permission for the "demolition of outbuilding and erection of single storey rear extension".

There is no mention of the conversion to an HMO dwelling in the application documents.

Upon seeing the planning application, Ms A said: "We were made aware yesterday of the application submitted for planning permission for a one storey extension but no mention at all of it being converted into an HMO. 

"Had we not done our own investigations, the council could go ahead and potentially approve this and we would have no idea what they were planning to do inside and what we would be living beside as a consequence.

"This I feel is hugely deceptive and how are residents and neighbours not made aware and given an opportunity to object?

"We are objecting because we have made it our business to find out what's really going on."

She added: "We have absolutely no parking on the street as it is, like nothing. It's horrendous."

She says there is "mass objection" from residents living on Westbury Road about the matter and they have contacted two local councillors about it "who don't seem that interested".

She said: "They [the councillors] keep telling us there's nothing they can do."

Ms A reports there is another "unlicensed" HMO dwelling nearby.

She said: "The dwelling is a constant source of problems by way of anti-social behaviour, dumped cars, blocked drains, overflowing rubbish. All the aspects we fear will repeat themselves at 26/26a."

Ms A's petition against the HMO has only been signed by 55 people so far.

Speaking on the matter, a Kingston Council spokesperson said: "Under the Housing Act 2004 the council has a duty to ensure properties are free from hazards, are not overcrowded and have adequate amenities, HMO's are also subject to The Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations whether they are subject to licensing or not.

"We understand that this project will be two separate properties, proposing to house four tenants in each and are therefore classed as small HMO's and do not require licensing. 

"We will however inspect when they are completed and occupied to ensure they are complying with these regulations. 

"Approved private sector building control surveyors carry out the same work as local authority building control Inspectors and are statutorily required to follow the same building regulations and specific standards for HMOs."

Kingston Nub News has contacted SAM Planning for comment, but it has not responded.