Article 4 Direction Checker

An Article 4 Direction removes permitted development rights in a defined area, most commonly the right to convert a normal home (use class C3) into a small shared house or HMO (use class C4) without planning permission. If a property is in an Article 4 area, you may need full planning permission to create or keep an HMO there. Enter a postcode above and Tuxa tells you instantly whether that specific address falls inside an Article 4 boundary.

What an Article 4 Direction actually does

Normally, changing a C3 dwelling into a C4 small HMO (three to six unrelated occupiers) is “permitted development”, meaning no planning application is needed. A council can issue an Article 4 Direction over a specific area to switch that off, so the change requires planning permission. Councils use them to control the spread of HMOs in particular neighbourhoods. It is separate from licensing: an address can need a licence, an Article 4 planning check, or both.

Why you have to check by postcode

Article 4 Directions apply to precise, council-drawn boundaries, sometimes a few streets, sometimes a whole ward. Two similar houses on the same road can fall on opposite sides of a boundary. There is no single national map, and directions are added and updated over time. Tuxa reads current Article 4 boundaries drawn from authoritative council sources, covering 164 boundaries across 107+ councils, so you are checking that exact address, not a rough regional guess.

How to use the Article 4 checker

Enter the postcode or full address in the box above. Read the result: Tuxa tells you whether the address is in an Article 4 area, and separately whether it needs a selective or HMO licence. If it is in an Article 4 area and you are creating or continuing an HMO, speak to the council’s planning team before you proceed.

Article 4 and HMO licensing are not the same thing

This trips up a lot of landlords. Licensing is about permission to operate a rental (selective or HMO). Article 4 is about planning, specifically whether you needed permission to create the HMO in the first place. A property can pass one and fail the other. Tuxa checks both from a single address lookup, which is why people use it before buying, converting, or letting. Read more in the Article 4 Direction guide.

Article 4 Directions by area

• Article 4 Direction in Birmingham
• Article 4 Direction in Manchester
• Article 4 Direction in Leeds
• Article 4 Direction in Sheffield
• Article 4 Direction in Nottingham
• Article 4 Direction in Liverpool
• Article 4 Direction in Coventry
• Article 4 Direction in Southampton
• Article 4 Direction in Portsmouth
• Article 4 Direction in Brighton and Hove
• Article 4 Direction in Leicester
• Article 4 Direction in Reading
• Article 4 Direction in Oxford

Or browse all Article 4 areas.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an Article 4 Direction in simple terms?

It is a rule a council applies to a specific area that removes the automatic right to turn a normal home into a small HMO without planning permission. Inside an Article 4 area, you have to apply for planning permission to do it.

Does an Article 4 area mean I cannot run an HMO?

No. It means you need planning permission to create or continue one, rather than relying on permitted development. Permission may still be granted; you just have to apply.

Is Article 4 the same as needing a licence?

No. Article 4 is a planning matter; licensing is a separate operating requirement. A property can be in an Article 4 area, need a licence, both, or neither, which is why it is worth checking both at once.

How do I check if my property is in an Article 4 area?

Enter the postcode or full address in the checker above. Tuxa reads current council Article 4 boundaries and tells you whether that specific address is inside one.

Is the Article 4 checker free?

You can search an address free to see its Article 4 and licensing status.