An independent trust has taken robust action to prevent a House of Multiple Occupation (HMO) from operating in one of its neighbourhoods.

Action was taken by Bournville Village Trust, which manages the Bournville Estate in south Birmingham, to stop a family-home in Shenley being remodelled and used as a HMO for exempt accommodation.

Plans were originally submitted to Birmingham City Council to turn the three-bedroom home in Radford Road into supported accommodation for children.  

The plans were refused by the City Council, but local people soon started to raise concerns of anti-social behaviour and Bournville Village Trust suspected the property had started to be used as a HMO.

Under the Bournville Estate Scheme of Management, introduced under Section 19 of the Leasehold Reform Act 1967, Bournville Village Trust has the power to prevent certain uses of properties within the Scheme area.

These special powers help preserve the standards of appearance and amenity of neighbourhoods, making sure they remain thriving and stable places that people are proud to call home. 

Tracey Rowe, Head of Estates and Stewardship at Bournville Village Trust, said: “We recognise that there has been an increase in HMOs across Birmingham and that it’s an ongoing concern for many people.

“We don’t believe HMOs, like the one that started to operate here, are appropriate for this part of the Shenley neighbourhood and we won’t give permission for single dwellings to be changed into HMOs. Just as we did in this case, we won’t hesitate to seek legal advice and take robust action to protect our neighbourhoods.

“We would like to thank local residents for their co-operation, patience and engagement in what has proved to be a lengthy but ultimately successful process.”

Pete Richmond, Chief Executive of Bournville Village Trust, added: “Across the city, we’re seeing exempt accommodation – which suffers from significant regulatory gaps – become out of control and consequently it’s having a severe impact in neighbourhoods.

“Whilst exempt accommodation provides homes for vulnerable people, which we support, there are examples of it being used as a profit-making enterprise. Not only does some exempt housing fail those it houses, but it also destabilizes communities by throwing off the delicate balance needed to sustain thriving neighbourhoods.

“As an organisation committed to sustaining thriving neighbourhoods, we will continue to challenge inappropriate HMOs and take robust action under our Scheme of Management.” 

Local residents, Su and Paul Handford, said: “There are many happy residents in the area who are very grateful for Bournville Village Trust’s intervention.”

“It has been a long process and at times frustrating, but we knew what Bournville Village Trust were trying to achieve along with their legal team and they worked hard to help us.”

Clifford Woodroffe, of Lee Bolton Monier-Williams LLP, who acted for Bournville Village Trust, said: “I delighted that the Trust had successfully prevented the use of the property in a quiet residential street as an HMO. The Trust has important and wide-ranging enforcement powers and this case shows it will not hesitate to use them where appropriate.”

Bournville Village Trust is one of the Midlands’ longest-serving independent charitable trusts.

It works within more than a dozen diverse communities in south and central Birmingham and Telford and aims to create and sustain communities where people can thrive.

It was founded by social reformer and chocolate maker George Cadbury in 1900 and provides services to over 9,000 households and 25,000 people.