Neighbours fear an influx of “come and go” tenants from a new house in multiple occupation (HMO) have created serious parking problems their street is ill-equipped to cope with.

Residents living in Becksbourne Close, Maidstone say they face daily struggles getting on and off their driveways which are frequently blocked by cars and vans.

Recently an emergency vehicle was unable to access a property and could not turn around due to the mass of parked vehicles.

Frustrated residents believe it’s largely due to a recent HMO which has put “undue pressure” on the already limited on-street parking.

They claim the increased housing - which sees landlords place two or more households under one roof - is having a “disproportionate effect” on the quiet cul-de-sac with vehicles parking on the pavement, causing damage, and obstructing the way for elderly and disabled pedestrians.

Tony Tullett is the spokesperson for the Becksbourne Owners Association, which represents most of the properties in their even-numbers offshoot of Becksbourne Close, off Sandling Lane, near Penenden Heath.

He said residents were facing two problems that combined to make life a misery.

Mr Tullett said: “People who don’t live in the close have got into the habit of parking on the entrance corner, sometimes with large commercial vans. This makes it very hard to get in or out safely.

“Secondly, one of the houses in the close has been converted to an HMO - a house in multiple occupation.

“There are five households living there which puts undue pressure on the limited on-street parking.”

There are only five bungalows and eight townhouses in the close.

All the bungalows have their own off-street parking, either on a drive or in a garage, and there are additionally nine garages in four blocks.

Mr Tullet added: “The entrance to the close has become a parking spot for non-residents, commuters and workers who leave their firms’ vehicles parked there.

“This reduces the entrance to a single-track highway and obscures vision for those of us that are trying to exit.

“All of us have had near accidents due to this problem. It also makes it difficult for those who need to access their garages on the opposite side of the road.

“The house that is an HMO has parking in front of the property for two vehicles.”

“Initially it was a six-room HMO, but that was later reduced to five when new rules came in about room sizes.

“Nevertheless, that’s at least five vehicles, plus their visitors; it’s having a disproportionate effect.

“Vehicles end up parking on the pavement, causing damage, and obstructing the way for elderly and disabled pedestrians.

“Residents have problems exiting and returning to their own driveways and only recently an emergency vehicle was unable to access a property and could not turn around due to the parked vehicles.”

Mr Tullett said he was shocked to read on KentOnline just how many HMOs there were in the county - nearly 1,900.

He asked: “Does anyone consider the effect these have on existing residents?”

“When the HMO was first converted, the tenants caused some disturbance with parties going on till 2am.

This road was just not intended for an HMO

“That has quietened down now. Of course, it’s no longer the same residents - they tend to come and go very quickly.”

His neighbour, Charles Elliott, said: “The chief problem is the parking, especially in the evenings when everyone‘s home. This road was just not intended for an HMO.”

Chris Webb, 80, suffers from a number of medical issues and said the parking situation was taking a toll on his mental health.

He said: “I worry, will I be able to get out if I have to go to hospital on the spur of the moment?”

“When one of us needed an ambulance the other month, it wasn’t able to get past the parked cars!”

Michael White was most concerned about vehicles parking on the corner of the street, which made it difficult for him to access his garage.

He said: “People just show no consideration.”

The owners of the HMO are a company called Rooms in Kent.

It advertises the five “double, furnished rooms” at the property at prices ranging from £595 a month to £895 a month.

Mr Tullett believes there is an easy solution that would help alleviate the problem.

He said: “The rear garden of the HMO backs onto Barnehurst Road. It would surely be easy to forge an access through the rear fence and create a couple of parking spaces in the rear garden?”

He has written to Rooms In Kent several times asking them to consider the option but says he has had no response.

Parking issues are one of the frequent causes of complaints about HMOs.

In Maidstone, Fant Ward councillors in particular have campaigned for tougher rules on allowing new HMOs because of the adverse effects on neighbours.

Maidstone council is said to be considering such a policy - that would take in parking issues - when working on its next iteration of its Local Plan.

Meanwhile, residents in Becksbourne Close are so frustrated by the parking problems they have written to their MP - and everyone else they can think of - asking for help.

They want to see a combination of double yellow lines at the entrance and single yellow lines introduced elsewhere to ensure they can access their garages and driveways and to make sure vehicles can enter and exit the road safely.

Helen Grant, MP for Maidstone and Malling, said she had taken up the issue on their behalf and contacted Cllr Neil Baker, the cabinet member for highways at Kent County Council, to see if yellow lines can be installed in the close.

Rooms In Kent was contacted for comment but did not respond at the time of publication.