Letter: Who Will Champion Residents Concerned By HMOs Now

Published on: 8 Jun, 2026
Updated on: 8 Jun, 2026

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From Fiona Davidson

former R4GV county councillor

In response to: Is Cllr McShane the Right Choice?

In his letter, Cllr Howard Smith raises the issue of Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs) which are having a detrimental impact in several areas of Guildford.

In 2020, during the review of Development Management Policies associated with the Local Plan, R4GV Councillors argued long and hard that Guildford should introduce restrictions to manage the proliferation of Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs) which we heard on the doorstep were blighting some areas and creating misery.

Many towns with universities – from Wolverhampton, to Leamington Spa and Brighton – have already introduced restrictions in the form of Article 4 direction and licensing of all HMO properties, in response to resident concerns – the same concerns as those raised by Guildford residents. However, Guildford Borough council officers, supported by Liberal Democrat councillors, were adamant that restrictions were not required.

So why doesn’t Guildford warrant the protection that councils in other university towns have implemented to support their residents?

It appears that for many years GBC officers have prioritised the demands of Surrey University for cheaper off-campus student accommodation over the housing needs of local residents and local families.

The University exerts a very strong influence over GBC, and the same is likely to be the case with the new West Surrey Council. As recently as July 2024, GBC officers continued to maintain that restricting HMOs is unnecessary and not justifiable.

It can’t help that no senior GBC officers actually live in Guildford, so they are unlikely to understand what’s actually happening on the ground, but councillors should.

As Cllr Smith has not been elected to the new West Surrey Council, who will now champion the plight of those local residents, and especially the families, suffering from the multiple issues associated with the uncontrolled proliferation of HMOs?