Plans to turn a three-bedroom Watford flat into a four-bedroom HMO have been submitted.

The vacant flat above Body Boutique, in St Albans Road, is the subject of a planning application added to the Watford Borough Council planning portal today (February 8).

Formerly a dental technician’s office, the first and second floors above the shop were turned into a three-bedroom flat in 2012. The flat is laid out with a living room and separate kitchen on the first floor and three bedrooms above it, for a family unit.

Watford Observer: The Body Boutique unit was formerly Topaz Hair and Beauty.The Body Boutique unit was formerly Topaz Hair and Beauty. (Image: Google Street View)

To create a house of multiple occupancy (HMO), part of the living room would become a bedroom while the rest would be combined with the kitchen for a kitchen/living room setup.

The upstairs flats would then each have an en-suite bathroom and have their sizes adjusted. The bathroom for the first floor bedroom would sit slightly lower than first floor level with stairs next to the entrance to the bedroom, according to the floorplans.

The application highlights that turning the flat next-door into a three bedroom HMO was approved by Watford Borough Council in April 2022.

It is currently "pending consideration".