Wallington residents have called on Sutton Council to crack down on houses in their neighbourhood being turned into flats without permission.

Almost 100 locals signed a petition which asked the authority to introduce a rule which would mean developers had to apply for planning permission to convert homes into Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO).

An HMO is a property where tenants have their own rooms but share kitchen and bathroom facilities.

A petition for the introduction of controls in the Sandy Lane and Upper Street area of Wallington was presented to the council’s Housing, Economy and Business Committee on Tuesday night (March 21).

Upper Road resident, Jason Whitmore, said: “I understand the need for housing in general including HMOs but there is need for some control, particularly in sensitive areas.

“Our neighbourhood being close to Croydon is under a lot of pressure.

"We have been dealing with a particular developer who has targeted our area and our community.

“We feel there is a place for HMOs but where they take advantage of planning regulations, as they are in places where they are not suitable, we feel that residents and the planning committee should have a voice.”

The resident added that there were concerns locally about traffic and parking which were made worse by “changing two-bedroom houses into six bedroom HMOs”.

Dean James, strategic planning manager at the council, said the authority would not be introducing the measures in the area. However, he added the council would be looking into a wider solution for the whole of Sutton which could be more effective.

He told the meeting: “We are in agreement in principle really that planning restrictions for HMOs are needed, it is just that slightly different approach that we are advocating to give the best chance of success.

“If we do introduce an Article 4 Direction it is not a ban on HMOs it is that the owner would need to apply to planning permission regardless of the size and it would be up for the council to decide on its merits.”

This week, neighbouring Merton Council confirmed an Article 4 Direction, which means developers need permission to turn houses into flats across seven wards of the borough.