Reigate and Banstead Council is inviting residents, landlords, property owners and others to comment on proposals to introduce planning controls for the conversion of homes into Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs).

An HMO is a property rented by at least three people from more than one household who share facilities such as a kitchen or bathroom, often known as house shares or bedsits.

The proposed Article 4 direction would remove permitted development rights that allow homes to be converted into a small HMOs – for three to six residents – without the need for a full planning application.

If the direction is confirmed, a full planning application would be required for small HMO conversions so that the Council can fully consider each proposal’s location, design, accommodation standards and potential impact on neighbours and communities. Larger HMOs, for seven or more residents, already need planning permission.

The consultation runs for eight weeks from 30 July to 24 September 2026.

Why the Council is making the Article 4 direction?

Cllr Kate Fairhurst, Executive Member for Place, Planning and Regulatory Services, said:

“HMOs can provide an important source of lower-cost housing for people who need it, and these proposals are not about preventing them.

“However, we have seen an increase in the number of HMOs in the borough and complaints about them. So, we want to put planning checks in place to help us make sure that future HMOs are in appropriate locations, are well designed, and do not have a negative impact on local communities. Many of our neighbouring councils have already taken similar steps to manage pressures in their local areas.

“We are keen to hear from residents, landlords, property owners and anyone with an interest in housing in the borough about our proposals before any decision is made, so do tell us your views so we can take them into consideration.”

How to give your views.

For more information about the proposals, visit the Article 4 direction for Houses in Multiple Occupation page. Those without internet access can view the proposals at the Town Hall, Reigate between the hours of 9am and 4pm on weekdays.

The deadline for responses to the consultation is Thursday 24 September 2026.

You can give your views by emailing Planning Policy or writing to: Planning Policy, Town Hall, Castlefield Road, Reigate, Surrey RH2 0SH.

To request Article 4 direction information in an alternative format, please email Planning Policy, call the team on 01737 276 178, or if you have a hearing impairment you can also send an SMS text to 07834 626 468.

What happens next?

After the consultation closes, the Council will review the representations received before a decision is made to confirm the direction. If confirmed, the direction would come into force on 30 July 2027.

More information.

• For more information about the proposals, visit the Article 4 direction for Houses in Multiple Occupation page
• For more information on the definition of an HMO, see our Environmental Health webpages or Shelter’s website.
• The proposal to make the direction was presented to the Planning Committee on 23 July 2026 – see item 8.

Staff at East  Surrey hospital have highlighted “widespread burnout and feeling undervalued”, according to a report by the Care Quality Commission.

The hospital in Redhill provides services for near three quarters of a million people across Surrey, West Sussex and South Croydon.

Leadership at Surrey and Sussex Healthcare Trust, which runs East Surrey had been downgraded from outstanding to requires improvement, according to the report.

Amanda Williams, from the CQC, said the most concerning part of the inspection was that many staff did not feel safe to speak up.

That meant that risks went unaddressed which could have “real consequences for the people in their care.”

Andrew Hines, the trust’s chief executive, said it had made major changes to its executive leadership team and implemented a comprehensive improvement programme.

Olympic gold medallist Matt Weston has been awarded an honorary degree from the University of Kent.

The Team GB skeleton racer, who won gold at this year’s Milan Cortina Winter Games, received a Doctor of the University degree on Monday.

Born in Redhill, he became the first British Winter Olympian to win two medals at the same games in February.

Weston said it was a “huge” honour.

Residents in Earlswood have been urged  not to refill a historical Surrey pond during the exceptionally hot weather.

Chain Pond on Earlswood Common has run dry, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

It adds that campaigners have been unable to persuade the local authority to free up its inlet, which appears to be blocked, desilt the pond and check the clay liner for cracks.

A spokesperson for Reigate and Banstead Borough Council said they were aware of concerns regarding Chain Pond, which was being impacted by climate change.

The UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) has upgraded its heat-health alert for South East England.

It said its previous yellow warning for the region was now amber, meaning the whole population could be at risk from hot weather.

The warning will be in place from 9:00 BST on Tuesday to the same time on Thursday.

It comes as temperatures are expected to peak in the mid-30s Celsius on Wednesday.

The UKHSA’s amber heat-alert applies to the East Midlands, East of England and London, alongside Kent, Surrey and Sussex.

It means the NHS may also see increased demand on GPs and ambulances, plus travel disruption is likely.

Other risks identified by the government agency include an increase in water-related incidents, such as people getting into trouble swimming in seas and rivers.

• How do heat health alerts work?

This latest heatwave comes after some of the driest regions of the UK missed a chance of rain over the weekend.

Parts of southern, central and eastern England remain in “prolonged dry weather” -the final stage before drought is declared.

Wisley in Surrey has been one of the driest locations in southeast England with 40 days of no rainfall up to and including 26 July.

Dry ground and low soil moisture levels are likely to become an increasing concern, potentially fuelling issues with water supply, wildfires and agriculture.

Extreme weather events are becoming more common and more intense around the world, fuelled by human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels.

Both Surrey and Sussex have been hit by several wildfires in recent weeks.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) said on Monday it had been called to more than 300 accidental grass fires since the start of May.

Nick Scott, from KFRS, said these types of fires can have “devastating consequences… such as injuring or killing wildlife, destroying property and livelihoods, or even putting someone’s life at risk.”