A man who lives at the property in Caerphilly borough which is at the heart of the plans says they have had ‘many sleepless nights over the last months where we’ve lived in fear of what happens next’Robert Harries Senior Reporter, Nicholas Thomas and Local Democracy Reporter
08:59, 19 May 2026Updated 09:05, 19 May 2026
25 Upper High Street in Rhymney, pictured in May 2021(Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service)
Vandals have repeatedly targeted a property at the heart of an HMO dispute in Caerphilly borough, causing criminal damage and making threats to “burn it down”, a council meeting has heard.
A resident at the property informed Caerphilly County Borough Council’s planning committee that the incidents had “led to many sleepless nights over the last months where we’ve lived in fear of what happens next”.
Applicant Vidya Giri is seeking to turn the terraced property at 25 Upper High Street in Rhymney into a four-bedroom HMO (house in multiple occupation), which would subsequently be overseen by a housing association.
But the proposals attracted 110 objections and a petition against the plans received 229 signatures, prompting committee members to postpone a decision so officers could supply additional information regarding the number of HMOs in Rhymney. Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter here.
HMOs are generally properties for single, unrelated adults who have their own private bedrooms but share other communal spaces, such as kitchens or bathrooms.
Case officer Joshua Burrows stated the proposed conversion of 25 Upper High Street was “not considered to have an adverse impact on neighbouring properties”.
Officers also did not believe the number of HMOs in the ward was “at a point where the character of the area is at risk”, the planning committee heard.
However, a resident, Mr Williams, reported there had been three incidents of antisocial behaviour at the location “due to the application”, including one where “a person broke into the property to carry out criminal damage, which was most disturbing to the neighbours”.
There have also been incidents where people have banged the windows and kicked the door, shouting “we will burn it down”, he said. “This has led to many sleepless nights over the last months, where we’ve lived in fear of what happens next.”
Mr Williams expressed concern about “a serious escalation of antisocial behaviour against the property and its residents if planning is approved”.
Committee chairman Cllr Roy Saralis roundly condemned the reported threats and criminal conduct.
Cllr Carl Cuss, representing the Twyn Carno ward, stated his objection to the HMO proposal “on behalf of residents who feel unheard, overlooked and increasingly frustrated”.
He claimed there had been a “lack of transparency” regarding who would occupy the property, asserting that neighbours “have a right to understand what is being proposed in their community”.
Cllr Cuss argued that Rhymney already had a disproportionate number of HMOs and was “increasingly being targeted because property prices are lower than in the south of the borough”.
“This is not organic growth, it is exploitation– we cannot allow certain areas to carry a disproportionate burden simply because housing is cheaper there,” he said.
Senior planning officer Carwyn Powell acknowledged residents’ worries but maintained there was “no empirical evidence to prove there will always be antisocial behaviour with a HMO”.
“I urge members and residents to understand that [we] as officers and you as a planning committee have to consider the planning merits of this proposal,” he said.
“All the emotion about fear of antisocial behaviour and fear of who’s going to go into these premises is not a matter that you can consider today.”
The applicant’s planning agent, Paul Parsons, said it would be “illegal to discriminate against any particular type of tenant or any that may possibly occupy a property”.
“My client has a business model where they purchase properties and they lease them… to a not-for-profit housing association, who will manage the tenants and will manage the property,” he explained.
“These are people who need properties… who can’t afford a property, and will be housed by housing associations and come off council waiting lists.
“I hate the way planning committees talk about ‘potential people’ as though they are scum and vermin. They’re not. They are people who need housing, and the cost of living means people can’t afford a whole flat. They can’t afford a whole property.”
The issue was postponed to a subsequent meeting.
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