Council resorts to Article 4 Direction for HMO clampdown
Summary
Knowsley Council has approved an Article 4 Direction to remove permitted development rights for small HMOs across the borough. Once the legal notice is published, conversions of family homes to small HMOs will require planning permission, subject to a 21-day consultation and confirmation by the Secretary of State.
Why it matters
Surveyors advising owners, buyers or landlords in Knowsley will need to account for the loss of automatic HMO conversion rights and the likely impact on planning strategy and asset use. It also signals a wider local authority approach to controlling HMO concentration, which can affect valuation, marketability and compliance considerations.
Key points
- Knowsley Council has approved an Article 4 Direction for small HMOs.
- The change removes the automatic right to convert a family home into a small HMO without planning permission.
- The council says the measure is intended to address local impacts such as parking pressure, waste, maintenance issues and amenity concerns.
- The direction takes effect after legal notice publication, followed by a 21-day consultation and Secretary of State confirmation.
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