Article 4 by council › Thanet
HMO Article 4 in Thanet
Do you need planning permission to turn a family home into a small HMO in Thanet? What the council's own direction says, with dates, the map and the source.
Yes. The whole of Thanet is covered by an HMO Article 4 direction.
whole district Converting a family home (use class C3) to a small HMO of 3 to 6 people (class C4) needs full planning permission anywhere in Thanet.
Council committee record: a district wide Article 4 direction removing the right to change a dwelling house to an HMO of up to 6 people was made by the Portfolio Holder on 3 February 2010 and confirmed by Cabinet on 27 June 2011 after consultation ending 25 March 2011. A council press blog (27 February 2012) says the direction is in force across the whole of Thanet from that date; the main thanet.gov.uk planning page does not mention it.
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: Thanet council, planning.data.gov.uk Article 4 direction areas, gov.uk HMO licensing. Indicative; confirm with the council before you offer.