Across the Doon South neighbourhood, landlords are finding reasons to stay out of their garages – by turning them into student rooms or apartments.

Erno Bauer was the latest homeowner to make such a request of the city, appearing Tuesday at a City of Kitchener committee of adjustment meeting.

Bauer wanted to convert the garage at his property into a bedroom, making room for another student to live at the rental property.

A number of owners of neighbouring homes appeared at the meeting as well, standing in opposition to his plan.

Among them was Teresa Feth, who says four of her neighbours have left the area in the past three months due to concerns about student housing.

“This little paradise … is just being decimated (and) destroyed,” she told CTV News.

“Have we not learned from Waterloo?”

Feth rhymes off concerns about student housing ranging from noise to unkempt properties to what she terms the “eyesore” appearance of the garages themselves – but admits that property values aren’t an issue in the shadow of Conestoga College.

“I’m sure there are people who (are) just itching to get a property here, to turn it into eight or 10 bedrooms and stuff it full of students,” she said.

The committee agreed to let Bauer move his parking space out of the garage. Creating living space in the garage will require a separate building permit.

“The space is there, and it can be used if it’s done properly, legally, with a proper building permit,” he said after the meeting.

As for neighbours’ other concerns, Bauer said most landlords try to maintain their properties properly, although tenants sometimes have to be policed by themselves or by actual police.

“Student behaviour cannot be controlled by landlords,” he said.

Coun. Yvonne Fernandes said she wants Kitchener to look at a rental licensing bylaw similar to Waterloo’s, although she admitted a battle with landlords over the idea would be likely.