NEIGHBOURS say their whole street has been “alienated” by the number of people crammed into some of the houses.

There are two legal Houses in Multiple Occupancy (HMOs) in St Barnbanas Road, Woodford Green, which have been converted from three to seven bedroom properties.

But the developer, Zulfi Khan, trading as Capel Estates Limited, is planning on registering a third HMO – even though many say the street cannot cope with overcrowding or an influx of cars and rubbish.

Labour Councillor for Roding Ward, Lloyd Duddridge, held a public meeting with residents last Friday and says the problem “cannot go on”.

He told the Guardian: “I’m very sympathetic towards them. All this has done is alienated a whole street.

“It’s such a shame – we feel like this whole thing is holding the street hostage which isn’t acceptable at all.

“These longstanding residents are, in many ways, traumatised by what’s going on. They are extremely frustrated. They’re all in unison, wanting to get this sorted.”

Sarah and Terry Vassell, who have lived in their home for the last 15 years, were asked to sign a party wall agreement to knock down their chimney breasts.

Much to their horror, when they refused the work was carried out anyway and the situation is now going through the courts.

Mother-of-two Mrs Vassell said: “I feel so enraged – it’s a very dangerous thing to do. It’s going to cost us money.

“I’m not against people building as I had my loft converted, but there are rules and regulations to follow.

“This is my home and I’ll do everything within the law to protect it. But for the developer, it’s an 8am to 6pm job. I won’t be pushed out.”

When residents moved into the second house last June, they allegedly had to borrow buckets of water from neighbours as the taps were coming out dry.

This has prompted Mrs Vassell to raise concerns about the standard of the houses and whether they have been properly inspected.

She said: “Six to ten adults on a street isn’t the way to solve a housing crisis. I fear the council is turning a blind eye to this.

“They see it as getting homeless people off the streets, but HMOs aren’t the way to deal with that. I’d rather see families living there.”

The influx of new residents also means old neighbours are unable to park their cars on the street.

Resident Cheryl Guymer said: “A HMO can bring an extra five to six cars to a road. A van once parked hanging over my drive, I could just about park myself.

“We aren’t talking about cars. But very large vans. These cause a hazard as you can’t see through them when trying to manoeuvre off or onto your drive. A HMO should have to allocate parking for the tenants.”

Existing neighbours were not made aware of the HMOs when they were opened, something Ms Guymer believes is unfair.

She added: “A HMO changes the dynamics of the road and an area so much. As a homeowner, you take pride in your house and keep it nice.

“At the end of the day us householders who are buying our houses have invested a lot of money and years into the area to then have it all ruined by these people who it is just a business for.

“Action needs to be taken by Redbridge Council, now.”

The homes are registered to Zulifqar Khan who owns ZK1 Limited, which trades as Capel Estates Limited. The Guardian has attempted to contact him but received no reply.

The Guardian has contacted Redbridge Council for comment.