Campaigners say the growth of houses in multiple occupation (HMO) is becoming a blight on neighbourhoods across Ashford.

There are more than 65 registered HMOs in the borough with more being developed every month.

The houses, often rented from private landlords, are occupied by several tenants, each with their own bedroom, who share bathroom, kitchen and living facilities.

Anti-social behaviour, noise and littering are just three of the issues neighbours of these properties say they have to deal with.

A petition has now been launched by residents in response to an application which seeks to convert a three-storey family home in Beaver Road into a seven-bedroom HMO, which was submitted recently to Ashford Borough Council.

It was started by Kevin Wagstaffe, who lives next door to the property, and has already attracted 40 signatures.

Mr Wagstaffe said: “This proposal has caused untold stress within our family, since we face the prospect of having essentially seven front rooms with the associated noise from televisions or music on the other side of the party wall which divides our properties.

“These are old properties and having lived here for over 20 years I can assure you that there has always been a tolerable level of noise transferred from the neighbouring properties.

“Other concerns which we fear will impact on our quality of life, and that of other residents, include parking, which is already extremely restrictive.

“Obviously not everyone will be a bad neighbour. And we do need affordable housing. But I’m not sure HMOs are the answer."

Ronald Etherington, whose home in Brookfield is sandwiched between two HMOs, said: “We’ve had problems for over seven years.

“We have for years now had to put up with anti-social behaviour, littering, fly-tipping, noise from fights and parties continuing well into the early hours of the morning." - Ronald Etherington

“We are suffering the consequences of Ashford Borough Council’s planning department allowing free rein to property developers who buy up three-storey properties on our estate and convert them into HMOs.

“We have for years now had to put up with anti-social behaviour, littering, fly-tipping, noise from fights and parties continuing well into the early hours of the morning.

“Landlords who own these properties live far away and have no stake in the communities they operate in. Their interest is profit."

Councillors are supporting Beaver Road residents’ fight to stop more HMOs being developed in their road.

Cllr Harriet Yeo (Lab), ward member for Norman ward, said: “This is a family area and it needs to stay family-orientated. We need quiet at night for children.

“This area (Beaver Road) has been run down and it’s not fair for the people who live here. We are in desperate need of family homes like the ones here.

“The council should be buying homes like this and putting a family in there.

“This area needs to be reclaimed by families.”

A spokesman for Ashford Borough Council said: “With a national shortage of housing and this need increasing, shared accommodation provides an essential, affordable supply of housing.

“For those who are under 35, on low pay or not working (and can only attract a single room rate via housing benefit) one-bedroom, private rented, housing can be unaffordable.

“For many an HMO is the only type of accommodation that they can realistically afford.”

Special report on HMOs in this week's Kentish Express, out now.