The proposal to convert a prominent property at 47-48 Old Steine in Brighton into a 17-bedroom House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) highlights ongoing challenges and debates surrounding housing in the city. The planning application, submitted to Brighton and Hove City Council, seeks temporary permission for this conversion amid concerns regarding the property’s future occupancy and security. With the building's lease expiring shortly, the applicant notes that finding a new office tenant appears increasingly improbable given current market conditions.

In the application, the need for property guardianship is framed as a necessary measure to prevent squatting and maintain security in a potentially vacant, prominent site. The applicant asserts that the presence of guardians would help avoid the unsightly measures of securing the building with physical barriers, which could detract from the character of Old Steine, a historically significant area. The occupation of the building by these guardians, which allows for a flexible living arrangement rather than a full residential lease, aims to safeguard the property until a more permanent solution is realised.

Independent property analysts have echoed the challenges of attracting new office tenants to spaces lacking modern amenities. The opinion submitted with the planning application emphasises that prospective occupiers are increasingly discerning, favouring properties that meet elevated standards of quality, energy efficiency, and environmental sustainability. In this context, older office configurations, such as the one at Old Steine, face significant hurdles in appealing to modern businesses.

The conversion of larger residential buildings into HMOs is not without controversy in Brighton and Hove. Recent months have seen multiple objections from local residents to similar proposals, as seen in the case of plans for family homes in Portslade. Concerns centred on increased noise, parking shortages, and the potential alteration of the community's character. While developers argue that such changes will have minimal impact, local residents often highlight broader issues of property use and neighbourhood integrity.

Additionally, Brighton and Hove has been grappling with the quality of housing in HMOs across the city. A recent licensing scheme aims to address the often poor management and living conditions in such properties, targeting those with three or four occupiers. This initiative, launched with the intent of improving standards in the private rental sector, underscores a growing acknowledgment of the need for regulatory scrutiny as demand for affordable housing options rises.

Further complicating the landscape of property guardianship, reports have emerged regarding individuals being faced with eviction from their arrangements with little notice, leading to homelessness for many in the city. Such experiences illustrate the inherent vulnerabilities within this unconventional housing model. The UK government's guidance on property guardianship warns occupants that these arrangements are often less secure than traditional tenancy agreements and carry their own sets of risks.

The proposed transition of this historic building into a 17-bedroom HMO therefore embodies numerous themes affecting Brighton's property market today—accessibility, security, community impact, and the pressing need for quality housing solutions. As the planning process unfolds, it remains to be seen how local governance will strike a balance between the flexibility needed in evolving urban environments and the concerns of residents who cherish the character of their neighbourhoods.

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Source: Noah Wire Services