Approval for Family Home To Be Converted into ‘House in Multiple Occupation’

Published on: 9 Jan, 2026
Updated on: 10 Jan, 2026

54 Queen Eleanors Road, in Onslow Village. Google Street View

By Emily Dalton

local democracy reporter

Plans to turn a Surrey family home into an eight-bedroom house share have been given the green light, despite concerns the neighbourhood is becoming ‘transient’.

The proposal would see a detached two-storey home on Queen Eleanors Road, in Onslow Village, Guildford, converted into a large house in multiple occupation (HMO), with space for up to eight tenants.

Although 22 letters of objection were submitted, councillors agreed there were no strong reasons to refuse the application at a Guildford Borough Council Planning Committee meeting yesterday (January 7).

The scheme includes converting the existing garage and utility room into living space, reworking the internal layout, adding several small bathroom windows with frosted glass, and extending parking at the front of the property.

Himanshu Lukha addressing the GBC Planning Committee

Objecting to the scheme at the planning committee, Mr Himanshu Lukha said the area was being turned into a “transient community” at the expense of families. He said the council is turning the community into something very different from what it has always been: “A family-orientated community served by local schools.”

But planning officers said the change would not harm the character of the local area or create an imbalance between family homes and HMOs. There is currently only one licensed HMO on Queen Eleanors Road.

But small HMOs (with up to four bedrooms) do not need to be licensed and the council does not keep a register of how many or where they are. HMOs that contain five or more bedrooms must be licensed.

Cllr George Potter

Cllr George Potter (Lib Dem, Burpham) echoed unease about the wider picture, saying he remained uncomfortable with the steady loss of family homes to HMOs in residential areas. But he accepted that, in planning terms, the council would struggle to defend a refusal.

Mr Lukha also raised concerns about overlooking, explaining that his household includes an 85-year-old blue badge holder and a family member who is housebound with a chronic illness.

“You don’t need windows in ensuite bathrooms,” he told councillors. “I’m urging you to do the right thing here.”

Cllr Maddy Redpath

Other councillors agreed that the proposed bathroom windows would be fitted with obscured glass and positioned high enough to prevent direct overlooking. Cllr Maddy Redpath (R4GV, Castle) added that any changes, such as non-frosted windows, could be dealt with by planning enforcement.

Neighbours also raised a long list of concerns, including parking pressure, noise, loss of privacy and the gradual erosion of what they see as a family-friendly community.

Several objectors said there was already enough shared and rented accommodation in the area and that Guildford needs more homes for families.