Article 4 by council › Stockton-on-Tees
HMO Article 4 in Stockton-on-Tees
Do you need planning permission to turn a family home into a small HMO in Stockton-on-Tees? What the council's own direction says, with dates, the map and the source.
No. Stockton-on-Tees had no HMO Article 4 direction in force when checked.
A small HMO of 3 to 6 people is permitted development in Stockton-on-Tees, subject to HMO licensing. Note: Cabinet on 15 January 2026 authorised a borough wide, non-immediate Article 4 direction removing C3 to C4 permitted development rights, subject to consultation and confirmation; press reports say it would take effect from March 2027. Checked 28 September 2026.
Cabinet report (15 January 2026) recommends a borough wide non-immediate direction plus an interim HMO SPD, with consultation under Schedule 3 of the GPDO before confirmation. Not yet in force. The main stockton.gov.uk pages returned 403 to the fetch tool; the committee site was readable.
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: Stockton-on-Tees council, planning.data.gov.uk Article 4 direction areas, gov.uk HMO licensing. Indicative; confirm with the council before you offer.