HMO Article 4 Direction Consultation

Overview

Havering Council is looking for your views on a proposal to introduce a new, borough-wide Article 4 Direction to require all new Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) to require planning permission.  

At the moment, there are areas of the borough where detached houses for use as HMOs do not need this planning permission. The Council are now proposing to make it consistent across the whole borough. The new borough-wide Article 4 Direction will apply to all types of residential dwellings, including detached houses, changing to HMOs.  

The Article 4 Direction will mean formally withdrawing permitted development rights granted by Schedule 2, Part 3, Class L(b) of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015 (as amended) for changes of use from dwellinghouse (Use Class C3) to small HMOs (Use Class C4).   

If passed – this change will enable the Local Planning Authority to assess new applications for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) against planning policy and take into account planning considerations such as: 

• Quality of residential development and adequacy of facilities 
• The need for family sized homes.
• Over concentration of HMOs.
• Antisocial behaviour and amenity impacts.
• Parking and parking impacts.

In line with national planning policy, Article 4 Directions require justification via a robust evidence base.  An evidence report has been prepared to support this proposal.

It is proposed to implement the new Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) Article 4 Direction one year after the Direction is made, after fully considering the consultation responses. 

To help you understand our proposals in more detail, you can find these related documents at the bottom of the page:

• HMO Article 4 Direction
• HMO Article 4 Direction Evidence Report
• Draft HMO Article 4 Equalities Impact Assessment 2026