A house in multiple occupation (HMO) which has been operating for more than 40 years has been given permission to continue,

Cabrell Bartels-Ellis applied to Maidstone council in March for a Lawful Development Certificate for number 235 Boxley Road.

The property is in Penenden Heath ward - the area with the third largest number of HMOs in the borough.

Under current legislation, any HMO of seven bedrooms or more must seek planning permission.

However, planning uses that have continued unchallenged for at least 10 years can have their status regularised by the issue of a Lawful Development Certificate.

Mr Bartels-Elllis said his 10-bed property had been operating as an HMO since May 7, 1983, and had been granted a premises license by the borough council on at least two previous occasions, for which he submitted proof - one as early as May 2012.

The council accepted his evidence and issued the certificate.

Find out about planning applications that affect you at the Public Notice Portal.

Details of the Boxley Road LDC application can be found under reference 25/501199.

The borough council is currently consulting with the public on a policy to more strictly regulate the provision of HMOs due to high concentrations in parts of Maidstone.

However, that is not yet in effect.