Article 4 by council › East Suffolk
HMO Article 4 in East Suffolk
Do you need planning permission to turn a family home into a small HMO in East Suffolk? What the council's own direction says, with dates, the map and the source.
In parts. East Suffolk has HMO Article 4 directions in named areas.
named area: the whole of the former Waveney district area (Lowestoft, Beccles, Bungay, Halesworth, Southwold and surrounding parishes) Inside those areas a small HMO of 3 to 6 people needs full planning permission; outside them it is permitted development, subject to licensing. Check the exact address on the council's map or with the postcode checker below.
The council's Article 4 directions page says there is 'an Article 4 Direction which covers all of the former Waveney district area, and removes the rights for a change of use of a dwelling to a use falling with Class C4 (houses in multiple occupation)' and that planning permission is required for such changes. The page gives no dates; the linked order PDF is a scanned image and could not be read for dates. The former Suffolk Coastal area is not covered.
Check an exact postcode
A direction can cover part of a council, and the national dataset is incomplete. This asks the planning data service for the exact point and falls back to the council's own statement.
What an Article 4 direction means
HMO Article 4 directions remove the permitted-development right to convert a family home (C3) to a small HMO (C4, 3 to 6 people). Inside one, that conversion needs full planning permission. Councils may also run additional licensing (smaller HMOs) or selective licensing (all private rentals) in designated areas. Planning permission and licensing are separate: a licence does not grant planning permission, and permission does not remove the need for a licence.
Sources: East Suffolk council, planning.data.gov.uk Article 4 direction areas, gov.uk HMO licensing. Indicative; confirm with the council before you offer.