'We want more say on shared houses in our community'

Residents of a town where a rising number of homes have been turned into houses of multiple occupancy (HMOs) have said they should be given more power to object.

Data from local authorities in Bolton shows the number of HMOs in the Bolton area has risen from 170 to 720 in recent years.

Campaigner Deborah Atherton said many in the town of Horwich feel laws allowing homes to be divided up among six residents or fewer without planning permission show "total disregard" for the feelings of local people.

A spokesman for Bolton Council said local planning regulations were being reviewed to give residents and the local authority more power to object.

Stuart, a Horwich resident, said the terraced, three-bed home next to him had been turned into a "hostel" for asylum seekers by Serco without any consultation.

He said the property was converted in a "matter of months" before a number of young men were "shoehorned" into the property.

Stuart said he had complained about excessive overnight noise after the HMO was created.

A spokesman for Serco, which is under contract by the government to house asylum seekers, said a housing officer had visited following the complaint to give advice to the tenants.

He said: "We take all complaints we receive seriously and have been working with the relevant agencies to find a solution."

A Home Office spokesperson said communities are consulted "where required" when HMOs are used to house asylum seekers, which is part of efforts to reduce reliance on hotels.

Under UK planning law, a property can be divided among six occupants without the need for planning permission and the subsequent consultation with local people.

But local authorities can enforce their own rules, which Bolton Council are now in the process of drawing up.

Mrs Atherton, who is from the campaign group 'No to HMOs Horwich' said many residents felt "scared" and "let down" by the increasing number of HMOs in the town.

A two-bedroom house next to Mrs Atherton's home is currently being turned into a HMO for five people.

She said there had been a "total disregard" for the feelings of residents.

The Labour MP for Bolton West, Phil Brickell said it was an "escalating" issue.

He said: "It's about the lack of transparency with local residents, who don't know at a moment's notice, whether an adjoining property is going to be turned into an HMO."

A spokesman for Bolton Council said the authority "fully understood the frustration" of local residents about the proliferation of HMOs.

He said the changes to planning rules would give them the power to object.

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