THE scale of ‘studentification’ in Stanmore is smaller than claimed by campaigners, according to a council study which shows around a quarter of the estate is occupied by students or young professionals.

Officials have counted 394 shared houses in the first survey of its kind, slightly fewer than the 400 estimated by residents who warned the community was at “breaking point”.

Houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) are popular with young people due to their reduced rents, but late night parties and anti-social behaviour have caused friction.

The Stanmore HMO Lobby claimed in late 2014 that there were around 400 shared houses, with students living in more than half the homes sold under Right to Buy since the 1980s.

They account for about a quarter of properties overall in Stanmore but a greater share of its population, with most housing four or five people.

Public campaigning has subsided since leader Amanda Chard let her house to students and moved to Badger Farm.

A clampdown on HMOs (article 4) is due to be introduced by Winchester City Council in May, forcing landlords to apply for planning permission before they convert family homes.

Campaigners failed to convince the council to bring the move forward by a year despite gathering a petition with more than 300 signatures.

An estimated 700 houses in Stanmore have been sold under right to buy, with around 880 left in council hands.

Ward councillor Jamie Scott, who led the survey and lives in a council house in Stanmore, said: “There are around 1,600 students in Stanmore. Some properties have seven or eight people in them. There is quite a lot of noise problems, issues with bins and parking.

“It is a good thing that the 'article 4' changes have come in but a shame that the trigger percentage was 20 per cent before such action could be taken. But long-term residents are aggrieved their community has changed.

“This year an awful lot of students have brought their cars to the city, creating problems in the top of Stanmore Lane, Wavell Way, Mildmay Street and Thurmond Road.”

Cllr Scott said in the long-term, residents may support residents-only parking.

Some three-bedroom former council houses are now going for £320,000 putting them out of reach of many local people.