Article 4 by council › Westmorland and Furness
HMO Article 4 in Westmorland and Furness
Do you need planning permission to turn a family home into a small HMO in Westmorland and Furness? What the council's own direction says, with dates, the map and the source.
No. Westmorland and Furness had no HMO Article 4 direction in force when checked.
A small HMO of 3 to 6 people is permitted development in Westmorland and Furness, subject to HMO licensing. Checked 28 September 2026.
Council HMO planning advice page states that in most cases a change from a single household (C3) to a small HMO (C4) does not require planning permission, and that Article 4 directions in the area generally apply to external changes to buildings and do not usually remove PD rights for changes of use to small HMOs. The Article 4(2) directions page names Alston, Kendal and Dalton conservation directions only.
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: Westmorland and Furness council, planning.data.gov.uk Article 4 direction areas, gov.uk HMO licensing. Indicative; confirm with the council before you offer.