Home / Glossary / Article 4 direction
What is Article 4 direction?
An Article 4 direction is a council order that removes certain permitted development rights in an area. For landlords, it most often means you need planning permission to turn a family house into a small HMO.
Why it matters to landlords
Without one, changing a house from a family home (use class C3) to a small HMO for three to six people (C4) normally does not need planning permission. Large HMOs always need it.
Check the council's planning pages for the exact boundary before buying. An HMO run without the permission it needed can face enforcement action.
Councils publish the areas covered by each direction, usually as a map.