Press Release
Sandown Town Council, at its meeting on the 22 September 2025 voted to propose a Supplementary Planning Document setting out how Sandown Town Council proposes HMOs be managed in terms of the location, density, and quality of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) within the town, in accordance with the Island Planning Strategy.
While HMOs play an important role in the housing market, Sandown and the wider Bay Area host a disproportionate concentration of HMOs compared to other Isle of Wight towns. Representing just 20.5% of the Island’s population the Bay has 36.36%
This concentration, and indeed the grouping of the majority of the HMO’s in Sandown, with the majority being sited within a 0.5 mile radius, has led to increased reports of antisocial behaviour (ASB), pressure on local services, and declining amenity for residents. The HMOs are predominantly occupied by adults, often with complex needs, leading to community tensions, public safety concerns, and reduced housing choice for families. Placements are driven by price with little consideration for the support needs of those placed. Poorly managed HMOs are often linked to neighbourhood decline, further exacerbating tensions between residents and HMO tenants.
Mayor Alex Lightfoot explained “the SPD has been brought forward following concerns raised by residents, including those occupying HMOs”.
The Supplemental Planning Document does not propose the removal of any HMOs or seek to stop HMOs being created in Sandown. Instead, in line with the Island Planning Strategy it proposes a mechanism to maintain a balanced, mixed and sustainable community preventing further overconcentration that undermines social cohesion through:
- Controls over density, proximity and clustering
- Quality of provision
- Transparency and Oversight
- Community Balance and Regeneration
The introduction of mandatory licensing and controls in other areas of the country has helped drive up standards and make HMOs safer places to live. Demonstrating there is a clear need for proportionate and targeted regulation.
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