Article 4 HMO check — Waltham Forest
London Borough of Waltham Forest has published 807 Article 4 Direction areas to planning.data.gov.uk, 1 of which remove the C3 → C4 small-HMO right and 806 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 Waltham Forest
Why this tier: 1 HMO direction (C3→C4 right removed) · 10 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 · 1 area
- 3MAChange of use: Class E (commercial, business, service) to dwellinghouses · 748 areas
- 3OChange of use: offices (B1a) to dwellinghouses · 46 areas
- 1AEnlargement, improvement or alteration of a dwellinghouse (extensions) · 10 areas
- 1COther alterations to the roof (rooflights) · 10 areas
- 1DPorches · 9 areas
- 2AGates, fences, walls or other means of enclosure · 9 areas
- 2CExterior painting · 9 areas
- 1FHard surfaces within the curtilage (driveways) · 8 areas
- 1HMicrowave antenna (satellite dishes) · 8 areas
- 1GChimneys, flues or soil and vent pipes · 7 areas
- 31BSchedule 2 Part 31 Class B · 7 areas
- 2BMeans of access to a highway · 2 areas
- 1BAdditions or alterations to the roof (roof extensions, dormers) · 1 area
- 3CChange of use: pub / hot-food takeaway to shop or café · 1 area
- 3DChange of use: A2 / drinking establishment / takeaway to shop · 1 area
- 3JChange of use: retail to assembly and leisure · 1 area
- 3PAChange of use: light industrial to dwellinghouses · 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 London Borough of Waltham Forest
- Other Article 4 Direction AreaIn force 2014-09-16
Plus 806 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 London Borough of Waltham Forest's 1 HMO Article 4 Direction area, yes: the permitted development right to change a house (C3) into a small HMO (C4, 3–6 occupiers) is withdrawn and a full planning application is required.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 807 published areas: Change of use: dwellinghouse (C3) to small HMO (C4) — up to 6 unrelated occupiers (1 area); Change of use: Class E (commercial, business, service) to dwellinghouses (748 areas); Change of use: offices (B1a) to dwellinghouses (46 areas); Enlargement, improvement or alteration of a dwellinghouse (extensions) (10 areas); Other alterations to the roof (rooflights) (10 areas); Porches (9 areas); Gates, fences, walls or other means of enclosure (9 areas); Exterior painting (9 areas); Hard surfaces within the curtilage (driveways) (8 areas); Microwave antenna (satellite dishes) (8 areas); Chimneys, flues or soil and vent pipes (7 areas); Schedule 2 Part 31 Class B (7 areas); Means of access to a highway (2 areas); Additions or alterations to the roof (roof extensions, dormers) (1 area); Change of use: pub / hot-food takeaway to shop or café (1 area); Change of use: A2 / drinking establishment / takeaway to shop (1 area); Change of use: retail to assembly and leisure (1 area); Change of use: light industrial to dwellinghouses (1 area).
807 Article 4 areas are currently published on planning.data.gov.uk, of which 1 is HMO-related (C3→C4); the most recent HMO direction came into force 2014-09-16. 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 London Borough of Waltham Forest publishes to planning.data.gov.uk. Always confirm with the council's planning department before committing money.
Council website: https://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/ · All councils, ranked