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Article 4 for other rights only (HMO right intact on record)

Article 4 HMO check — St Albans

St Albans City and District Council has published 34 Article 4 Direction areas to planning.data.gov.uk, 0 of which remove the C3 → C4 small-HMO right and 34 cover other permitted development rights. Enter a postcode to see which, if any, contain it.

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

What is prohibited without planning permission in St Albans

Strictness
Other rights
HMO areas
0
Rights removed
44

Why this tier: 14 householder rights also removed (extensions, roofs, exterior) · commercial change-of-use rights also removed.

  • 2AGates, fences, walls or other means of enclosure · 21 areas
  • 2CExterior painting · 9 areas
  • 3OChange of use: offices (B1a) to dwellinghouses · 9 areas
  • 1AEnlargement, improvement or alteration of a dwellinghouse (extensions) · 8 areas
  • 1COther alterations to the roof (rooflights) · 8 areas
  • 1DPorches · 7 areas
  • 3PChange of use: storage / distribution to dwellinghouses · 7 areas
  • 3PAChange of use: light industrial to dwellinghouses · 7 areas
  • 1FHard surfaces within the curtilage (driveways) · 6 areas
  • 2BMeans of access to a highway · 6 areas
  • 1BAdditions or alterations to the roof (roof extensions, dormers) · 5 areas
  • 1EBuildings incidental to the enjoyment of the dwellinghouse (outbuildings, sheds) · 5 areas
  • 1GChimneys, flues or soil and vent pipes · 5 areas
  • 1HMicrowave antenna (satellite dishes) · 5 areas
  • 2DElectrical outlets for recharging vehicles · 4 areas
  • 2EElectrical upstands for recharging vehicles · 4 areas
  • 2FClosed-circuit television cameras · 4 areas
  • 4BTemporary use of land (28-day rule) · 2 areas
  • 14AInstallation of solar equipment on domestic premises · 1 area
  • 14BInstallation of stand-alone solar equipment on domestic premises · 1 area
  • 14CSchedule 2 Part 14 Class C · 1 area
  • 14DSchedule 2 Part 14 Class D · 1 area
  • 14ESchedule 2 Part 14 Class E · 1 area
  • 14FSchedule 2 Part 14 Class F · 1 area
  • 14GSchedule 2 Part 14 Class G · 1 area
  • 14HSchedule 2 Part 14 Class H · 1 area
  • 14ISchedule 2 Part 14 Class I · 1 area
  • 14JSchedule 2 Part 14 Class J · 1 area
  • 14KSchedule 2 Part 14 Class K · 1 area
  • 14LSchedule 2 Part 14 Class L · 1 area
  • 14MSchedule 2 Part 14 Class M · 1 area
  • 14NSchedule 2 Part 14 Class N · 1 area
  • 14OSchedule 2 Part 14 Class O · 1 area
  • 16BSchedule 2 Part 16 Class B · 1 area
  • 16CSchedule 2 Part 16 Class C · 1 area
  • 25ASchedule 2 Part 25 Class A · 1 area
  • I1-1950Schedule 2 Part ? Class I1-1950 · 1 area
  • I1-1977Schedule 2 Part ? Class I1-1977 · 1 area
  • I1-1981-A1Schedule 2 Part ? Class I1-1981-A1 · 1 area
  • I2-1950Schedule 2 Part ? Class I2-1950 · 1 area
  • I2-1977Schedule 2 Part ? Class I2-1977 · 1 area
  • I3-1977Schedule 2 Part ? Class I3-1977 · 1 area
  • I3-1981-A1Schedule 2 Part ? Class I3-1981-A1 · 1 area
  • I4-1977Schedule 2 Part ? Class I4-1977 · 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 St Albans City and District Council

No direction in the published data is flagged as HMO-related by its code or text — the council may have uploaded its HMO direction without that detail. Run a postcode check and read the direction document.

Plus 34 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

Do I need planning permission for an HMO in St Albans?

St Albans City and District Council's published Article 4 Directions remove other permitted development rights (gates, fences, walls or other means of enclosure; exterior painting; change of use: offices (b1a) to dwellinghouses), not the C3→C4 HMO right on the published record. A small HMO (3–6 occupiers) would ordinarily be permitted development, but confirm with the council — records are sometimes incomplete. A large HMO (7+) always needs permission.

What exactly is prohibited without permission in St Albans's Article 4 areas?

Across the 34 published areas: Gates, fences, walls or other means of enclosure (21 areas); Exterior painting (9 areas); Change of use: offices (B1a) to dwellinghouses (9 areas); Enlargement, improvement or alteration of a dwellinghouse (extensions) (8 areas); Other alterations to the roof (rooflights) (8 areas); Porches (7 areas); Change of use: storage / distribution to dwellinghouses (7 areas); Change of use: light industrial to dwellinghouses (7 areas); Hard surfaces within the curtilage (driveways) (6 areas); Means of access to a highway (6 areas); Additions or alterations to the roof (roof extensions, dormers) (5 areas); Buildings incidental to the enjoyment of the dwellinghouse (outbuildings, sheds) (5 areas); Chimneys, flues or soil and vent pipes (5 areas); Microwave antenna (satellite dishes) (5 areas); Electrical outlets for recharging vehicles (4 areas); Electrical upstands for recharging vehicles (4 areas); Closed-circuit television cameras (4 areas); Temporary use of land (28-day rule) (2 areas); Installation of solar equipment on domestic premises (1 area); Installation of stand-alone solar equipment on domestic premises (1 area); Schedule 2 Part 14 Class C (1 area); Schedule 2 Part 14 Class D (1 area); Schedule 2 Part 14 Class E (1 area); Schedule 2 Part 14 Class F (1 area); Schedule 2 Part 14 Class G (1 area); Schedule 2 Part 14 Class H (1 area); Schedule 2 Part 14 Class I (1 area); Schedule 2 Part 14 Class J (1 area); Schedule 2 Part 14 Class K (1 area); Schedule 2 Part 14 Class L (1 area); Schedule 2 Part 14 Class M (1 area); Schedule 2 Part 14 Class N (1 area); Schedule 2 Part 14 Class O (1 area); Schedule 2 Part 16 Class B (1 area); Schedule 2 Part 16 Class C (1 area); Schedule 2 Part 25 Class A (1 area); Schedule 2 Part ? Class I1-1950 (1 area); Schedule 2 Part ? Class I1-1977 (1 area); Schedule 2 Part ? Class I1-1981-A1 (1 area); Schedule 2 Part ? Class I2-1950 (1 area); Schedule 2 Part ? Class I2-1977 (1 area); Schedule 2 Part ? Class I3-1977 (1 area); Schedule 2 Part ? Class I3-1981-A1 (1 area); Schedule 2 Part ? Class I4-1977 (1 area).

How many Article 4 Directions has St Albans City and District Council published?

34 Article 4 areas are currently published on planning.data.gov.uk, of which 0 are HMO-related (C3→C4). Councils can add or amend directions at any time.

What happens if I convert to an HMO inside an Article 4 area without permission?

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.

Is this an official council check?

No. Article4Check UK is an independent private service that reads the open data St Albans City and District Council publishes to planning.data.gov.uk. Always confirm with the council's planning department before committing money.

Council website: https://www.stalbans.gov.uk · All councils, ranked