Plans to change a family house into a HMO in Crayford are expected to be passed by Bexley Councillors.

The house, in Ridge Way, would be home to five occupants if the application if is given the green light at a meeting next week.

HMO’s – Houses of Multiple Occupancy – have hit the headlines recently because of poor and cramped living conditions.

In Bexley, the number of HMOs has increased by 260 to 640 since 2016, the majority of which have only been identified after neighbours complained about the conditions of the houses.

The council recently agreed to crackdown on rogue landlords, following on from a Government scheme to license HMO owners.

Planning chiefs at Bexley Council have said this scheme should be accepted.

They said in their report: “The proposed change of use constitutes an isolated change of use to HMO in an area of family housing. It will not affect the external appearance of the host building.

The scheme will not affect the amenities of residential neighbours with respect to light, outlook or overlooking.

“A parking area to be created can accommodate parking demands predicted to be generated by the proposal,” a statement on the planning application read.

Neighbours have complained about the application, saying that it would make parking problems on the road worse, despite five parking spaces being included in the plans.

A total of four objections have been listed from neighbours in Dale Close.

The application will be debated next Thursday, June 28.