Locals Furious: Top UK University's Student HMOs Ravaging Community

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One of Britain's leading universities is pushing out local families from affordable housing and allegedly harming neighborhoods, angry residents informed MailOnline.

Students from Durham University – which is presently placed fifth in the UK according to the Good University Guide – are increasingly moving into suburban areas at a rapid pace. This surge is due to developers transforming family homes into four-bedroom Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMOs), as alleged.

The most recent approval for development has been granted by the local authorities at Cooper Square within the Gilesgate area of the historic cathedral city. This project will transform the third such property in this location, turning part of a once tranquil row of post-World War II council homes into something new.

Locals argue that Cooper Square illustrates how Durham is becoming dominated by students, pushing low-income families out of the neighborhoods where they were raised.

The three-bedroom house located at number 38 is soon set to undergo a transformation into a four-room HMO designed to accommodate students.

A one-story addition at the back of the property along with an expanded parking area will be included. Additionally, spaces for waste bins and bicycles will be set up to cater to the students.

The exact same procedure has recently occurred in a previous family residence situated on the other side of the green at the heart of Cooper Square, where children from nearby households once played.

The changes to the street where she has lived for 30 years have infuriated Janice Garbutt, 70.

She stated: "Once conversion number 38 is complete, it will become the third House of Multiple Occupation on this street, which is shameful since Cooper Square was designed for family living rather than student accommodation."

It appears that wherever you glance in Durham right now, new student housing is going up. So, why should they encroach upon areas that belong to local residents?

'Student houses can also be found in nearby streets, leading to an ongoing encroachment into residential zones which is destroying community life. This must be halted.'

'In the past, you were familiar with all your neighbors and everyone on the street, but things have changed now; this shift has entirely altered the essence of our neighborhood.'

I am just two houses away from the first place that has been turned into student accommodation; it’s now a four-bedroom home with a large addition at the rear, which I assume will serve as extra living space.

I have absolutely no issue with students, but my main concern is that folks from areas like Gilesgate are being pushed out; they cannot manage to stay here as people prefer selling their properties to developers instead.

'This situation is shameful and more stringent regulations should be imposed regarding the location of student accommodations.'

Kim Grabham, aged 63, resides beside what will soon be the latest student residence on the block.

She stated: "They demolished the former Majestic bingo hall in Gilesgate and constructed a large students' accommodation building in its place."

'It’s just a short stroll away from here, so why do they have to transform residential homes on this street into additional student accommodations?

A local pub that has shut down is also undergoing conversion; it appears as though every vacant structure in Durham gets filled with students before you realize it.

'It will change the street, there's no doubt about that and it might be noisy but if it is I will take my hearing aids out and ignore it!'

The Jones family has already experienced what it’s like to live beside Durham students.

Mum Bev, aged 63, stated: "The house beside ours was inhabited by students who have since relocated, however, during that period, it was quite an issue."

There were around four of them inside, but they would throw noisy parties.

One evening, there were roughly 20 individuals inside, and it went past 2 AM with no end in sight and the music still blaring loudly.

My daughter was preparing to leave for her job, and we had no option except to contact the authorities. The moment they arrived, the students dispersed and vanished, yet we should not have been forced to take such measures.

'We moved in here in 1996 and bought our house in 2018. At that time it was a quiet residential area full of families and everyone knew each other.

'The character of the street has changed and it's really not for the best, it's just not an appropriate place to bring students into.'

Her daughter Hayley, 34, said: 'We had to lose a section of our front garden to convert it into a parking area because there were so many cars in the street.

'Before family homes turned into student accommodations, things were different. This change will likely worsen the situation, and it’s simply not suitable for residences on this street.'

Their near neighbour Malcolm Milburn, 57, said: 'I am old enough to remember when I felt safe to leave my front door open.

'Cooper Square used to be that kind of community because you knew your neighbours and trusted them. I wouldn't dare do that now.

'The sense of community has gone, it's been ruined by the people who have been allowed to move in.

'We have a lot of foreign nationals in the street who don't integrate and now we're going to have two more student houses and it's taking the area downhill.

'Back in the day the green in the centre was full of kids playing and people felt safe in that because everyone knew each other. This shouldn't have been allowed to happen.'

Tracey Langmead, 54, said: 'I worry that local people on low income will end up on the streets, there is nowhere for them to go.

'Students are being moved in by developers because all they care about is money. No one gives a damn about the local people who are being forced out.'

Ryan Morgan, 58, said: 'Before the first HMO was converted there was a local lad with a family who wanted to buy it.

'But it was sold to the developer, no doubt because they were able to offer more money, knowing that they'd be able to get a big return.

'Once this place was a close-knit community. In the summer months everyone would get together and sit outside and socialise. You don't get that any more because these days people don't know each other.

People come and go, and you hardly notice them, not to mention actually talking to them.

'I've lived here for three decades, and it's disheartening to see how the neighborhood has changed. Those of us who own homes also worry about the decline in property values.'

Lauren Aspinall, who resides right next door, voiced her concern about the proposed alterations, mentioning it has led her to contemplate relocating.

She stated, "This seems like it would make my life and current living conditions more difficult than they already are. I genuinely don’t wish to sell the house and relocate because I am quite fond of Cooper Square."

The objections against the HMO conversion were led by Belmont Parish Council.

They opposed the application because they believed that the development would negatively affect social harmony and disrupt the balance of the community.

The Belmont Parish Council stated: "We officially object to this proposal and fundamentally oppose the increase of HMO properties within a neighborhood primarily designed for family homes."

The parish likewise brought up concerns regarding the permitted quantity of HMOs in the region as outlined by the local plan, stating that the concentration within a 100-meter radius must not exceed 10 percent. The local authority determined that the dwelling barely met the criteria for conversion, with a density rate of 9.6 percent.

In spite of the protests, Durham County Council gave approval for the transformation of the building on April 10, under several stipulations. These conditions encompass sound insulation as well as adherence to a Student Management Plan.

A representative from Durham University stated: "We have no plans to increase our enrollment numbers. The city currently offers adequate housing for students. We aspire for 40-45 percent of our students to reside in university-provided accommodations, and as such, we are making investments in college lodging to meet this objective."

We are dedicated to being a considerate neighbor and consistently collaborate with our shared residents’ association forums to comprehend and tackle any issues that might come up.

Stephen Reed, who serves as the planning manager for Durham County Council, stated: "The County Durham Plan provides guidelines on the number of HMOs deemed suitable in a specific area, which can be up to ten percent of the total properties located within 100 meters from the proposed development site. For this particular application, it fell below this limit."

After thoroughly reviewing all submissions, the planning committee concurred that introducing a modest HMO in this area would not disproportionately skew the current community toward one heavily populated by HMOs. They also concluded that the proposed establishment would not lead to an undue adverse effect on the well-being of present or prospective inhabitants due to a surge in multiple occupancy properties.

'Similarly, across various regions of the country, Housing Management Organisations (HMOs) are widely recognised and have been an established type of living space for decades, contributing to the national housing stock.'

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