Hi Cristoffs, thank you for pointing that out. In this particular case, I split the residential area as it carries three different names (as can be seen from the place=hamlet nodes from a previous import), using the multipolygon relation method (method B in the wiki).  
Another way might be to create two polygons with an overlapping segment, closed ways (method A in the wiki). 
Both have pros and cons, as shown on this page:https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Relation:multipolygon#Mapping_style,_best_practice

The third method would involve leaving the road excluded from the residential area, but we tend to include the roads within them (both methods are accepted). 

In this particular case, since these residential areas partly border on the west with a landuse=farmland and on the east with natural=scrub and wood, and we use the multipolygon relation method to map the landcover/landuse, I find it more consistent to keep the same methodology that will be used to map the whole area.

Nonetheless, when I complete the landcover of the area, I will certainly take a look at this point to make it as simple as possible. 

Out of personal curiosity, do you have any links/documentation on the ban in Europe that you are referring to? Thank you! 
