Permitted Development in summary allows you to carry out changes to an existing building without the need for a full planning application. This allows for buildings to be converted or extended quickly without going through the whole planning process.

Ultimately, it saves time and money and allows development to occur quicker with less red tape.

Class L is a planning permitted development that allows the change of use from C3 residential to C4 HMO development by converting a house or flat into an HMO.

C3 use includes dwellinghouses for single families such as houses or a flats

C4 use are for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO).

A house is an HMO if the following apply:

• At least 3 tenants live there, forming more than 1 household
• Toilet, bathroom or kitchen facilities are shared with other tenants

A large HMO will have at least 5 tenants, which would require an HMO licence

HMO Minimum Bedroom Sizes

The minimum bedroom sizes for HMO are as follows:

• 6.51sqm: 1-adult bedroom
• 10.22sqm: 2-adult bedroom
• 4.64sqm: bedroom for 1 child of 10 years or under

*Note in some locations these sizes are larger, always with your local council

Article 4

Class L HMO conversions are permitted development except for in areas where an Article 4 exists to prevent HMO’s or where a previous planning permission has removed Class L rights.

Article 4 is often imposed by local councils to control the spread of HMO’s.

As a planning application is required to convert a house into an HMO within Article 4 areas, this allows the planning department to refuse the change of use and hence, prevent family houses from being converted in well-established residential areas.

Some councils impose Article 4 for the whole city whereas other councils will have certain regions where it applies. Always check with your local council

Reversal

Class L also allows the reversal of C4 HMO properties to be converted back into C3 dwelling houses without the need for planning permission.

If occupancy drops less than 3 then it will be deemed to be a C3 use Class and no longer a HMO