Article 4 by council › Guildford
HMO Article 4 in Guildford
Do you need planning permission to turn a family home into a small HMO in Guildford? What the council's own direction says, with dates, the map and the source.
No. Guildford had no HMO Article 4 direction in force when checked.
A small HMO of 3 to 6 people is permitted development in Guildford, subject to HMO licensing. Checked 28 September 2026.
Council committee item 'A Review of HMO Controls (2023)' records that the data 'did not support the introduction of additional HMO licensing or justify an Article 4 Direction in Guildford at the current time' and the Chair did not support making one. The council HMO page makes no mention of an Article 4 direction. Residents' groups have campaigned for one (local press, 2024 to 2025) but no proposal was found.
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: Guildford council, planning.data.gov.uk Article 4 direction areas, gov.uk HMO licensing. Indicative; confirm with the council before you offer.