®Planning appeal decision
14 Highbury Villas, Bristol, BS2 8BX
Planning appeal 3336632 at 14 Highbury Villas, Bristol, BS2 8BX (Bristol City Council) was allowed on 20 June 2024 by Inspector Allen M, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the appellant has proved on the balance of probabilities that use of the building as a HMO falling within a sui generis use began on or before 27 September 2013 and continued without significant interruption for ten years after the date of the change.
described as “This property was owned by my parents and rented to students as a 7 bedroom HMO. It has been in use as a 7 bedroom HMO since 2008, as confirmed by Bristol Council’s private housing department, and an HMO license remains in place until December 2023…..I am now selling the property. The buyer wishes to continue renting the house to students as an HMO. However, the buyer’s lender has stipulated that we must acquire a lawful development certificate for existing use as confirmation that it can continue to be let as a 7-bed HMO
- Authority
- Bristol City Council
- Appeal type
- ldc · Lawful Development Certificate
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Change of use
- Inspector
- Allen M
- Postcode
- BS2 8BX
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the appellant has proved on the balance of probabilities that use of the building as a HMO falling within a sui generis use began on or before 27 September 2013 and continued without significant interruption for ten years after the date of the change
What decided it
The Council's own HMO licensing records and supporting documentation (tenancy agreements, bank statements, and deposit protection evidence) established that the property had been continuously used as a seven-resident HMO for more than ten years from the relevant date.
The decision letter
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With an account
What an account adds to this decision
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The main issues, what decided it, the planning balance and the policies and judgments listed as cited are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro and are our summary, not the Inspector’s words; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.