Council – Do as I say not as I do?

I have become involved in an argument with Richmond Upon Thames council over plans by a homeless peoples charity to convert a local hotel/motel into a housing project. The local residents are shocked that the council has waived local planning guidelines on size of units, parking provision and communal space.

The scheme will see tenants put into hotel rooms of approximately 16m2 compared with the now national minimum standard 37m2 for a single bed unit.

There is no communal space for cooking, no laundry facilities, no warden and no outdoor space for recreation other than a car park at the front of the property.

Each tenant will have a separate lease running for up to two years. I would welcome comments from landlords on whether such a scheme would be legal in the private rental sector or is this an example of the council saying ‘Do as I say not as I do?’

Chris