Article 4 Directions

Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs)

Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) can provide an affordable type of housing for tenants looking for accommodation in an area, as well as contributing to the overall mix of housing types and tenures available. High concentrations of HMOs can cause an imbalance in communities, which can sometimes have a detrimental impact on neighbourhoods.

In certain areas in Chester high HMO numbers were affecting the balance of the community. For this reason, the Council has changed the planning rules relating to further proposed HMOs in theses areas. The change means that a planning application must be submitted when a family home (Use Class C3) is being converted into to a HMO occupied by three to six unrelated people (Use Class C4). This planning control is called an Article 4 Direction.

The introduction of an Article 4 Direction will allow the Council to assess, on a case by case basis, whether applications for the creation of new HMOs are acceptable or not in planning terms. The change will not affect existing HMOs, but will help to control the number of new HMOs created.