HMO Case Study - Bradford
HMO Bradford Case Study
Pemberton Drive- Conversion of 2 attached terraced houses into 2x 16bed HMO’s
Pemberton Drive in Bradford is extremely close to Bradford City’s University. As such, many of these 4-storey Edwardian and Victorian terraced houses are used as student accommodation. Hussain Architectural Design were tasked with designing as many beds as possible in two of these houses for the purpose of maintaining them as HMOs (Houses of Multiple Occupation).
The two houses were attached to each other, one mirrored the other in layout and appearance. This helped as what could be achieved in one house, could be replicated in the other. The two properties had been vacant for some years with extensive fire damage to the roof which needed intensive repairs and a full re-roof to one of the properties.
The houses as they existed had 4 storeys which included habitable basement and attic levels. Each shared an outrigger to the rear which afforded the house extra rooms in these parts. There was an existing access point from the basement and ground floor to the rear via steps, and the finished ground floor level was elevated from the external ground level to allow windows for the basement level at the front.
As well as rebuilding the roof and adding dormers to make the attic levels more usable, our client also wished for us to extend the rear outrigger to increase shared amenity spaces for the residents including a dedicated laundry room and extra respite space. By splitting the large front and rear rooms on the ground floor and first floor levels, the overall number of bedrooms could be increased. All bedrooms and living spaces had to meet strict requirements to ensure it would be a comfortable living standards. These included adequate space, organisation of furnishings and amount of facilities to ensure all occupants have what they need to live comfortably.
The original layout of each house allowed for up to 7 bedrooms, 1 large bathroom, living room, dining room, kitchen and storage space. The extension proposed additional space for extra bathroom and toilet facilities and extra respite areas including a dedicated laundry room for both properties to use. The extension also did not overbear on any neighbouring properties and still allowed for plenty of garden space and external bin storage for each of the HMO’s.
The dormers in the attic level had to be designed to be in keeping with the rest of the houses on this block as it formed part of the Little Horton Conservation Area for Bradford. With the rearrangement of the partition walls, the attic level managed to gain a total of 5 bedrooms per property with adequate head room, bed space and storage for each occupant. The first floor and ground floor followed similar layouts by splitting the larger rooms into two and utilising the space above the stairs and the rear outrigger. This enabled 5 bedrooms on the ground floor level and another 6 on the first floor. This was the same for both proposed HMO’s.
The first floor and basement levels were home to the toilet and shower blocks so no occupant had to go more than one floor to visit the bathroom. Using the council’s guidance on the amount of toilets and showers needed for the proposed amount of occupants per HMO, each house achieved 8 WC’s and 5 individual shower cubicles. There were also 2 kitchens in the basement that each had 2 sets of necessary kitchen space and plenty of dry and cold storage and worktop space.
Bradford City Council granted permission for these proposed extensions, changes and creation of 2x 16 bed HMO’s as they followed all guidance provided as well as living space standards, and the two 7 bed properties now allow for up to 32 residents to live for the nearby university.
Hussain Architectural Design Ltd then went on to complete the building regulations approval for the proposed extensions and changes at the two proposed HMO’s. The extended basement, ground floor and first floor levels were detailed and specified as well as the new roof construction with dormers. The fire regulations, plumbing systems and M&E drawings were also completed to Building Regulations Approval and HMO officer approval.
