A property in Widnes could be converted into a house in multiple occupation (HMO) if plans are given the green light.

London-based Parata Property has submitted an application to Halton Borough Council for the conversion of a four-bed house on Mersey Road in West Bank into an HMO with six bedrooms.

An HMO is defined as a property housing three or more people who do not form the same household. They have individual bedrooms but share some facilities, such as kitchens and/or bathrooms.  HMOs housing more than five people must be licensed by councils.

On its website, Parata Property said it specialises in finding HMO investment opportunities in the North West for its clients. Its website features case studies of investors from as far afield as Hong Kong and Australia.

Its website states: "Founded in 2020, Parata Property offers a turn-key service for national and international investors navigating the complexities of the UK's North West property market. We specialise in HMO property sourcing and project management and have successfully delivered 37 projects with an accumulative transaction value of £9m by being a trusted partner ensuring a smooth and successful investment journey."

According to recently published council figures, Halton has 187 known HMOs - of which 116 are larger HMOs licensed by the authority. A total of 72 of these are managed by SERCO on behalf of the Home Office as part of the Government’s refugee and asylum seeker resettlement scheme.

The general concept of HMOs has proven controversial in the past, with one Halton planning chief previously likening them to ‘Victorian slums’.  But backers say they provide a vital source of affordable housing in an increasingly tough housing market.

In January, an application to turn the Main Top Hotel on Mersey Road into six apartments was thrown out over parking concerns.  Ward councillors Pamela Wallace and Noel Hutchinson had opposed the scheme, claiming a rise in rented properties and houses of multiple occupation (HMO) were 'harming' the local area.

No date has been set for a decision on the new application and the plans can be viewed on the council's website under the following reference number. 24/00437/PLD