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Strict council · 21 HMO directions

Opening an HMO in Liverpool: the Article 4 guide

Liverpool City Council scores 6 on our strictness scale (21 HMO directions (C3→C4 right removed); multiple HMO areas; 14 householder rights also removed (extensions, roofs, exterior); commercial change-of-use rights also removed). Below: every HMO Article 4 area it has published, when each came into force, which categories of right the council has removed across all its areas, and an outline of the planning route. Live from planning.data.gov.uk — indicative, verify with the council.

HMO areas
21
All Article 4 areas
1421
Latest HMO direction
2025-07-22

1. Where — the HMO Article 4 areas

  1. Land at corner of Great Howard Street/Boundary Street, Liverpool, L5
    In force 2006-12-13 · published to the platform 2006-12-13
  2. Former Service Station, 209 Great Howard Street, Liverpool, L5
    In force 2007-07-09 · published to the platform 2007-07-09
  3. 2A Myrtle Street, Liverpool, L7
    In force 2011-12-19 · published to the platform 2011-12-19
  4. Sugar Brook Service Station, East Lancashire Road, Liverpool, L11 2ST
    In force 2012-08-31 · published to the platform 2012-08-31
  5. 2A Myrtle Street, Liverpool, L7
    In force 2012-10-19 · published to the platform 2012-10-19
  6. Land at the end of, Florida Court, Liverpool, L19 9EF
    In force 2015-12-07 · published to the platform 2015-12-07
  7. 23 - 25 Belmont Road, Liverpool, L6 5BG
    In force 2016-08-02 · published to the platform 2016-08-02
  8. 17-19 Holt Road, Liverpool, L7 2PL
    In force 2017-04-11 · published to the platform 2017-04-11
  9. 90 - 94 Townsend Lane, Tuebrook, LIVERPOOL, L6 0BB
    In force 2017-09-25 · published to the platform 2017-09-25
  10. 133 Woolton Road, Wavertree, Liverpool , L15 6TB
    In force 2018-01-05 · published to the platform 2018-01-05
  11. 133 Woolton Road, Liverpool, L15 6TB
    In force 2018-06-27 · published to the platform 2018-06-27
  12. 7 Honeys Green Precinct, Liverpool , L12 9JH
    In force 2018-07-20 · published to the platform 2018-07-20
  13. Charnock Road, Liverpool, L9 7ET
    In force 2018-08-06 · published to the platform 2018-08-06
  14. 149 Picton Road, Liverpool, L15 4LG
    In force 2018-08-17 · published to the platform 2018-08-17
  15. 133 Woolton Road, Wavertree, Liverpool, L15 6TB
    In force 2019-02-11 · published to the platform 2019-02-11
  16. 18A Florida Court, Liverpool, L19 9EF
    In force 2019-04-23 · published to the platform 2019-04-23
  17. Land off Charnock Road, Liverpool, L9 7ET
    In force 2019-12-20 · published to the platform 2019-12-20
  18. 50-60 Waterloo Road, Liverpool, L3 7BE
    In force 2021-03-18 · published to the platform 2021-03-18
  19. 1-3 Croxteth Road, L8 3SE
    In force 2021-06-18 · published to the platform 2021-06-18
  20. Land at Edge Lane Retail Park bounded by Montrose Way, Edge Lane and Railway Line, Liverpool
    In force 2023-11-01 · published to the platform 2023-11-01
  21. 53 Grey Road, Liverpool, L9 1AX
    In force 2025-07-22 · published to the platform 2025-07-22

Boundaries are polygons — a postcode is a point. The free check tells you whether an address is inside one of these areas; the paid report adds the rights each direction removes, the council reference, the direction document and the full planning route for that address.

Free teaser, no sign-up · Try NE2 2AL (Newcastle HMO Article 4) or SW1A 1AA (Westminster, non-HMO direction)

2. When — timeline

  • 2006-12-13Land at corner of Great Howard Street/Boundary Street, Liverpool, L5
  • 2007-07-09Former Service Station, 209 Great Howard Street, Liverpool, L5
  • 2011-12-192A Myrtle Street, Liverpool, L7
  • 2012-08-31Sugar Brook Service Station, East Lancashire Road, Liverpool, L11 2ST
  • 2012-10-192A Myrtle Street, Liverpool, L7
  • 2015-12-07Land at the end of, Florida Court, Liverpool, L19 9EF
  • 2016-08-0223 - 25 Belmont Road, Liverpool, L6 5BG
  • 2017-04-1117-19 Holt Road, Liverpool, L7 2PL
  • 2017-09-2590 - 94 Townsend Lane, Tuebrook, LIVERPOOL, L6 0BB
  • 2018-01-05133 Woolton Road, Wavertree, Liverpool , L15 6TB
  • 2018-06-27133 Woolton Road, Liverpool, L15 6TB
  • 2018-07-207 Honeys Green Precinct, Liverpool , L12 9JH
  • 2018-08-06Charnock Road, Liverpool, L9 7ET
  • 2018-08-17149 Picton Road, Liverpool, L15 4LG
  • 2019-02-11133 Woolton Road, Wavertree, Liverpool, L15 6TB
  • 2019-04-2318A Florida Court, Liverpool, L19 9EF
  • 2019-12-20Land off Charnock Road, Liverpool, L9 7ET
  • 2021-03-1850-60 Waterloo Road, Liverpool, L3 7BE
  • 2021-06-181-3 Croxteth Road, L8 3SE
  • 2023-11-01Land at Edge Lane Retail Park bounded by Montrose Way, Edge Lane and Railway Line, Liverpool
  • 2025-07-2253 Grey Road, Liverpool, L9 1AX

A property already lawfully in C4 use before the relevant date may qualify for a Lawful Development Certificate instead of planning permission (step 3 below).

3. What is removed — all rights across Liverpool's Article 4 areas

  • 3LChange of use: dwellinghouse (C3) to small HMO (C4) — up to 6 unrelated occupiers · 21 areas
  • 1BAdditions or alterations to the roof (roof extensions, dormers) · 1019 areas
  • 1COther alterations to the roof (rooflights) · 998 areas
  • 1AEnlargement, improvement or alteration of a dwellinghouse (extensions) · 880 areas
  • 1DPorches · 789 areas
  • 1EBuildings incidental to the enjoyment of the dwellinghouse (outbuildings, sheds) · 777 areas
  • 1FHard surfaces within the curtilage (driveways) · 757 areas
  • 1GChimneys, flues or soil and vent pipes · 729 areas
  • 2AGates, fences, walls or other means of enclosure · 670 areas
  • 1HMicrowave antenna (satellite dishes) · 638 areas
  • 2BMeans of access to a highway · 586 areas
  • 2CExterior painting · 231 areas
  • 2EElectrical upstands for recharging vehicles · 225 areas
  • 2DElectrical outlets for recharging vehicles · 224 areas
  • 2FClosed-circuit television cameras · 224 areas
  • 24ASchedule 2 Part 24 Class A · 176 areas
  • INCOMPLETE DATASchedule 2 Part ? Class INCOMPLETE DATA · 85 areas
  • 3AChange of use: shop (E) to café/restaurant (former A3) · 49 areas
  • 17GSchedule 2 Part 17 Class G · 46 areas
  • 3CChange of use: pub / hot-food takeaway to shop or café · 34 areas
  • 17FSchedule 2 Part 17 Class F · 28 areas
  • 3DChange of use: A2 / drinking establishment / takeaway to shop · 20 areas
  • 3JChange of use: retail to assembly and leisure · 19 areas
  • 3TChange of use: business / hotel etc. to state-funded school or registered nursery · 19 areas
  • 3BSchedule 2 Part 3 Class B · 18 areas
  • 3ESchedule 2 Part 3 Class E · 18 areas
  • 3FSchedule 2 Part 3 Class F · 18 areas
  • 3GChange of use: shop / financial to mixed use with a flat · 18 areas
  • 3HSchedule 2 Part 3 Class H · 18 areas
  • 3ISchedule 2 Part 3 Class I · 18 areas
  • 3KSchedule 2 Part 3 Class K · 18 areas
  • 3MChange of use: shop / financial / takeaway etc. to dwellinghouse · 18 areas
  • 3NChange of use: amusement arcade / casino to dwellinghouse · 18 areas
  • 3OChange of use: offices (B1a) to dwellinghouses · 18 areas
  • 3PChange of use: storage / distribution to dwellinghouses · 18 areas
  • 3QChange of use: agricultural buildings to dwellinghouses · 18 areas
  • 3RChange of use: agricultural buildings to flexible commercial use · 18 areas
  • 3SChange of use: agricultural buildings to state-funded school · 18 areas
  • 3USchedule 2 Part 3 Class U · 18 areas
  • 3VChange of use between uses in a flexible planning permission · 18 areas
  • 16AElectronic communications code operators (telecoms masts, cabinets) · 15 areas
  • 16BSchedule 2 Part 16 Class B · 15 areas
  • 16CSchedule 2 Part 16 Class C · 15 areas
  • 16DSchedule 2 Part 16 Class D · 15 areas
  • 16ESchedule 2 Part 16 Class E · 15 areas
  • 17ESchedule 2 Part 17 Class E · 11 areas
  • 8ASchedule 2 Part 8 Class A · 10 areas
  • 8BSchedule 2 Part 8 Class B · 6 areas
  • 8CSchedule 2 Part 8 Class C · 6 areas
  • 8DSchedule 2 Part 8 Class D · 6 areas
  • 8ESchedule 2 Part 8 Class E · 6 areas
  • 8FSchedule 2 Part 8 Class F · 6 areas
  • 8GSchedule 2 Part 8 Class G · 6 areas
  • 8HSchedule 2 Part 8 Class H · 6 areas
  • 8ISchedule 2 Part 8 Class I · 6 areas
  • 8JSchedule 2 Part 8 Class J · 6 areas
  • 8KSchedule 2 Part 8 Class K · 6 areas
  • 8LSchedule 2 Part 8 Class L · 6 areas
  • 8MSchedule 2 Part 8 Class M · 6 areas
  • 8NSchedule 2 Part 8 Class N · 6 areas
  • 10ASchedule 2 Part 10 Class A · 2 areas
  • 32ASchedule 2 Part 32 Class A · 2 areas
  • 33ASchedule 2 Part 33 Class A · 2 areas
  • 3L(B)Schedule 2 Part ? Class 3L(B) · 2 areas
  • 6BAgricultural development on units of less than 5 hectares · 2 areas
  • 9ASchedule 2 Part 9 Class A · 2 areas
  • 9BSchedule 2 Part 9 Class B · 2 areas
  • 9CSchedule 2 Part 9 Class C · 2 areas
  • 9DSchedule 2 Part 9 Class D · 2 areas
  • 9ESchedule 2 Part 9 Class E · 2 areas
  • 25ASchedule 2 Part 25 Class A · 1 area
  • 25BSchedule 2 Part 25 Class B · 1 area
  • 6AAgricultural development on units of 5 hectares or more · 1 area
  • 6CSchedule 2 Part 6 Class C · 1 area
  • 6ESchedule 2 Part 6 Class E · 1 area

4. How — the planning route in Liverpool (outline)

Step headings only. The detail and statutory basis for each step, applied to your address, are in the paid report.

  1. 1. Full planning application required for C3 → C4
  2. 2. Check the council's HMO policy before applying
  3. 3. Existing use? Prove it was lawful before the direction
  4. 4. Large HMO (7+ occupiers) is sui generis
  5. 5. Separate: HMO licence
  6. 6. Enforcement exposure
Limits of this guide
  • Coverage depends on each council publishing its Article 4 Directions to planning.data.gov.uk. 'No Article 4 found' means none is published for this point — it does not prove that none exists. Verify with the local planning authority (LPA) before committing money.
  • A postcode is a point, not a building outline. Properties on the boundary of an Article 4 area can fall either side — confirm the exact address with the LPA.
  • Large HMOs (7 or more occupiers, sui generis) always need planning permission, Article 4 or not. Mandatory HMO licensing (Housing Act 2004) is separate from planning and is not checked here.
  • This report is indicative information from published datasets, not legal or planning advice.

Council: https://www.liverpool.gov.uk · Liverpool summary page · All councils, ranked