Article 4 by council › Bexley
HMO Article 4 in Bexley
Do you need planning permission to turn a family home into a small HMO in Bexley? What the council's own direction says, with dates, the map and the source.
Yes. The whole of Bexley is covered by an HMO Article 4 direction.
whole borough (non-immediate direction made 2016-09-16, confirmed 2017-09-20) In force since 24 September 2017. Converting a family home (use class C3) to a small HMO of 3 to 6 people (class C4) needs full planning permission anywhere in Bexley.
Check an exact postcode
A direction can cover part of a council, and the national dataset is incomplete. This asks the planning data service for the exact point and falls back to the council's own statement.
Licensing in Bexley
Mandatory HMO licence: 5 or more people forming 2 or more households sharing facilities.
Additional licensing: none found. Property licensing schemes page describes selective licensing only; no additional HMO licensing scheme mentioned.
Selective licensing: yes, named wards: Belvedere (from 13 January 2025), ends 12 January 2030.
What an Article 4 direction means
HMO Article 4 directions remove the permitted-development right to convert a family home (C3) to a small HMO (C4, 3 to 6 people). Inside one, that conversion needs full planning permission. Councils may also run additional licensing (smaller HMOs) or selective licensing (all private rentals) in designated areas. Planning permission and licensing are separate: a licence does not grant planning permission, and permission does not remove the need for a licence.
Sources: Bexley council, planning.data.gov.uk Article 4 direction areas, gov.uk HMO licensing. Indicative; confirm with the council before you offer.