Article 4 by council › Ribble Valley
HMO Article 4 in Ribble Valley
Do you need planning permission to turn a family home into a small HMO in Ribble Valley? What the council's own direction says, with dates, the map and the source.
Yes. The whole of Ribble Valley is covered by an HMO Article 4 direction.
whole district In force since 28 August 2026. Converting a family home (use class C3) to a small HMO of 3 to 6 people (class C4) needs full planning permission anywhere in Ribble Valley.
Council page: an immediate Article 4 Direction approved at the 27 August 2026 Planning and Development Committee came into force 'immediately as of 28 August 2026' and 'applies to all areas of Ribble Valley', so planning permission is now needed to convert a house into a three to six person HMO. The page invited comments during a statutory consultation period after making.
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: Ribble Valley council, planning.data.gov.uk Article 4 direction areas, gov.uk HMO licensing. Indicative; confirm with the council before you offer.