Read the Harlow HMO guide — areas, dates, what is removed, planning route →
Article 4 HMO check — Harlow
Harlow District Council has published 14 Article 4 Direction areas to planning.data.gov.uk, 3 of which remove the C3 → C4 small-HMO right and 11 cover other permitted development rights. Enter a postcode to see which, if any, contain it.
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What is prohibited without planning permission in Harlow
Why this tier: 3 HMO directions (C3→C4 right removed) · HMO direction described as borough/city/town-wide · 8 householder rights also removed (extensions, roofs, exterior) · commercial change-of-use rights also removed.
- 3LChange of use: dwellinghouse (C3) to small HMO (C4) — up to 6 unrelated occupiers · 3 areas
- 1AEnlargement, improvement or alteration of a dwellinghouse (extensions) · 6 areas
- 1DPorches · 6 areas
- 1GChimneys, flues or soil and vent pipes · 6 areas
- 2CExterior painting · 6 areas
- 1COther alterations to the roof (rooflights) · 5 areas
- 1FHard surfaces within the curtilage (driveways) · 5 areas
- 2AGates, fences, walls or other means of enclosure · 5 areas
- 3MAChange of use: Class E (commercial, business, service) to dwellinghouses · 5 areas
- 14AInstallation of solar equipment on domestic premises · 4 areas
- 1EBuildings incidental to the enjoyment of the dwellinghouse (outbuildings, sheds) · 1 area
Codes are GPDO 2015 Schedule 2 Part/Class as published by the council. "Removed" means a planning application is required for that work inside the area.
HMO Article 4 Directions published by Harlow District Council
- HMO - townwideIn force 2021-04-12
- 1 to 56 Morley GroveIn force 2013-07-01
- 57 to 99 Morley GroveIn force 2013-07-01
Plus 11 non-HMO Article 4 areas (conservation-area householder rights, commercial changes of use, etc.). A postcode check lists every one that contains the point.
FAQ
If the property sits inside one of Harlow District Council's 3 HMO Article 4 Direction areas — and at least one is described as borough/city-wide —, yes: the permitted development right to change a house (C3) into a small HMO (C4, 3–6 occupiers) is withdrawn and a full planning application is required. Outside those areas a small HMO is normally permitted development. A large HMO (7+ occupiers) always needs permission. Check the exact postcode above.
Across the 14 published areas: Change of use: dwellinghouse (C3) to small HMO (C4) — up to 6 unrelated occupiers (3 areas); Enlargement, improvement or alteration of a dwellinghouse (extensions) (6 areas); Porches (6 areas); Chimneys, flues or soil and vent pipes (6 areas); Exterior painting (6 areas); Other alterations to the roof (rooflights) (5 areas); Hard surfaces within the curtilage (driveways) (5 areas); Gates, fences, walls or other means of enclosure (5 areas); Change of use: Class E (commercial, business, service) to dwellinghouses (5 areas); Installation of solar equipment on domestic premises (4 areas); Buildings incidental to the enjoyment of the dwellinghouse (outbuildings, sheds) (1 area).
14 Article 4 areas are currently published on planning.data.gov.uk, of which 3 are HMO-related (C3→C4); the most recent HMO direction came into force 2021-04-12. Councils can add or amend directions at any time.
It is a breach of planning control. The council can serve an enforcement notice requiring the HMO use to stop; ignoring it is a criminal offence with an unlimited fine. Lenders and insurers may also treat it as a breach of their terms.
No. Article4Check UK is an independent private service that reads the open data Harlow District Council publishes to planning.data.gov.uk. Always confirm with the council's planning department before committing money.
Council website: https://www.harlow.gov.uk · All councils, ranked