Understanding HMO Article 4 Directions in London

Landlords

Posted in Aug 18 , 2025

Understanding HMO Article 4 directions in London is crucial for determining where you can build HMOs and the required investment. It’s the actual difference between ensuring a smooth management of the project and a complete failure.

What does Article 4 mean in Law?

As per the planning, Article 4 Directions gives the power to local councils to remove some of the permitted development rights. Under the legal rules, there is no planning permission required when you convert a single-family home (C3) into a small HMO (C4 meant for up to 6 people), but the council can use Article 4 to take away this right.

For a landlord, this makes a huge difference. Instead of buying a property and quickly adapting it for multiple tenants, you may face a lengthy planning process, and there’s no guarantee that permission will be granted.

Why Councils Use Article 4?

You need to understand that HMOs bring both benefits and challenges. At one time, they offered affordable houses for students, professionals, and low-income people. Still, they can also alter the neighbourhood, creating parking issues, noise, and waste management problems, which may prompt the council to take action.

With Article 4, councils have the power to regulate how many HMOs are acceptable in the area and where they should be located. Landlords need to be appropriately prepared with research or get help from Cribs Estate to make their investment decision.

London Boroughs and Article 4 Coverage

Every borough in London deals with Article 4 in its way; some have no restrictions at all, others have applied to some zones, whilst others have chosen not to apply at all. Let’s go through them quickly:

Boroughs with full coverage

In places such as Newham, Tower Hamlets, Barking & Dagenham, and Waltham Forest, Article 4 is applied throughout the borough. In case of any conversion related to a small HMO, you need full planning permission.

Partially covered boroughs

Areas such as Haringey, Lewisham, and Southwark are selective in restrictions. You will see one street fully occupied, whilst another street is without any HMOs.

Boroughs without Article 4

Central areas such as Camden, Westminster, Islington, and Hackney have allowed the development of small HMOs at the moment. Conversions are easy to understand, but the rules of licencing are still in process.

The Impact on Landlords and Investors

If you are currently entering the HMO market, here’s what Article 4 has to offer:

In restricted areas, planning applications can add costs and delays, but a successful approval often makes the property more valuable because the supply of legal HMOs is limited.
In partially covered areas, the challenge is to ensure you determine the right area; otherwise, you might end up getting stuck.
In unrestricted boroughs, conversions are easier, but competition may be stronger as more investors target these locations.

Technical Notes on Article 4 Directions

Although most landlords only require a basic understanding of the HMO Article 4 directions in London, it’s beneficial to grasp how government planning rules operate.

The Legal Basis

Any decision made under Article 4 Directions is under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015. These rules remove permitted development rights, which means even small HMO conversions will need permission. In the case of large HMOs, it is compulsory to get planning permission.

Process and Enforcement

The councils often give 12 months to consult with the public before Article 4 is applied. In case of rejection of planning, landlords can appeal, but any illegal HMO conversion can lead to enforcement notices.

Licensing Still Applies

Article 4 only relates to the planning permission. Any HMO licencing under the Housing Act 2004 will remain a separate requirement for landlords.

How Cribs Estates Can Help

We specialise in providing support to new landlords and investors at every stage of the HMO. Our team determines whether a property is subject to Article 4 restrictions before our investors purchase it, and we provide real-time yield potential for HMOs in both restricted and unrestricted areas.

We have specialists in our panel to plan for formal applications. Once the HMO is ready, our team ensures the best property management compliance is followed as per safety and the standards of the council. Understanding HMO Article 4 directions in London is simple with Cribs Estate by your side.

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Understanding HMO Article 4 Directions in London

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