A Bath family who say they are trapped in a "student ghetto" have had their application to turn their property into a house of multiple occupation (HMO) deferred.
Johnny Kidney, a public relations executive who lives in Lorne Road, in Oldfield Park, has seen the price of his property plummet since Bath and North East Somerset Council introduced its Article 4 Direction.
He applied to turn his family home into an HMO because he says it is impossible to sell it otherwise, as the only people interested in the property are buy-to-let landlords.
However councillors on the Development Control Committee voted to defer the application so that the policy can be looked at and revised.
Under the Article 4 policy new conversions will be banned if more than a quarter of properties in a 100-metre radius are already HMOs.
Officers found that 50 per cent of properties in Lorne Road were HMO's, though Mr Kidney and councillor Ben Stevens said it was around 80 per cent.
Mr Kidney and his partner Sophie Stanford-Tuck said they felt trapped, and were appealing for permission to sell their house on a level playing field.
Ms Stanford-Tuck said: "The value of our house has plummeted by 10 per cent since Article 4 was bought in.
"We are appealing to you to help us look forward to the future."
Mr Kidney said: "Officers say that granting HMO consent to our home will lead to an unacceptable housing mix. I would hardly call being the only family in a sea of student house shares an acceptable housing mix.
"We are not so much applying for planning permission, rather we are asking the council for permission to sell our house on a level playing field on the same terms on which it was purchased, and in so doing release us from this situation which has had such a negative impact on us, allowing us to get on with our lives as planned pre-Article 4."
Councillor Ben Stevens (Lib Dem, Widcombe) said that Lorne Road should be an exception to the rule.
He said: "A massive per cent of houses on Lorne Road are HMOs, where students live.
"There is no sense of community, to trap a family there seems mean spirited."
Councillor Ian Gilchrist (Lib Dem, Widcombe) agreed.
He said: "Article 4 had admirable intentions, but the scenario didn't anticipate cases where we already have too much.
"The few remaining people trapped should be given a chance to escape."
However councillors felt that if they made an exception for Lorne Road, then they would have to do the same for others.
Councillor Les Kew (Cons, High Littleton) said: "If we are going to look policy we can't just look at Lorne Rd.
"It will be a very wide debate."
Councillor Vic Pritchard (Cons, Chew Valley South) said: "The applicants have done nothing wrong but because of a decision to introduce Article 4 they get caught as they have.
"However if we are going to be politically correct we as a committee have to agree with the guidelines.
"The guidelines need to be looked at and amended, so that the applicants can try again."
Eight councillors supported a decision to defer the application, with two abstentions.
