Article 4 by council › Kensington and Chelsea

HMO Article 4 in Kensington and Chelsea

Do you need planning permission to turn a family home into a small HMO in Kensington and Chelsea? What the council's own direction says, with dates, the map and the source.

No. Kensington and Chelsea had no HMO Article 4 direction in force when checked.

A small HMO of 3 to 6 people is permitted development in Kensington and Chelsea, subject to HMO licensing. Checked 8 September 2026.

Coversno HMO direction; directions cover Class E to residential, basements and launderettes plus conservation areasCouncil pagewww.rbkc.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/heritage-and-cNational dataset84 direction areas published, 0 for HMOsChecked8 September 2026

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.

Is a postcode inside an HMO Article 4 area?

Licensing in Kensington and Chelsea

Mandatory HMO licence: 5 or more people forming 2 or more households sharing facilities.

Additional licensing: yes, whole borough.

Selective licensing: none found. Council HMO page states it operates a mandatory scheme and an additional scheme only; no selective licensing mentioned

Full licensing detail for Kensington and Chelsea

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.

See this on every listing.Kerbio puts the Article 4 answer, licensing, the council's HMO register and sold prices on the Rightmove, Zoopla or OnTheMarket page itself. Free for 7 days, then £39 a month.

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Sources: Kensington and Chelsea council, planning.data.gov.uk Article 4 direction areas, gov.uk HMO licensing. Indicative; confirm with the council before you offer.