Article 4 by council › West Suffolk
HMO Article 4 in West Suffolk
Do you need planning permission to turn a family home into a small HMO in West Suffolk? What the council's own direction says, with dates, the map and the source.
No. West Suffolk had no HMO Article 4 direction in force when checked.
A small HMO of 3 to 6 people is permitted development in West Suffolk, subject to HMO licensing. Checked 28 September 2026.
Council Article 4 page lists nine directions (Barton Mills, Bury St Edmunds and Clare conservation areas, Eriswell, Haverhill, Honington, Hundon, Red Lodge), covering conservation features, markets, caravans and enclosures. No HMO direction; the council HMO page also makes no mention. Press reports say a 2025 to 2026 council review concluded the evidence did not justify an HMO Article 4.
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: West Suffolk council, planning.data.gov.uk Article 4 direction areas, gov.uk HMO licensing. Indicative; confirm with the council before you offer.