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Article 4 by council › Cornwall

HMO Article 4 in Cornwall

Do you need planning permission to turn a family home into a small HMO in Cornwall? What the council's own direction says, with dates, the map and the source.

In parts. Cornwall has HMO Article 4 directions in named areas.

named areas: Falmouth (town urban area excluding the Docks; reported in force from 2017-06-16 by Falmouth Town Council and solicitors); Cornwall Council's Article 4 page confirms HMO directions exist and points to its Constraint Checker but does not list areas or dates, and its Falmouth confirmation notice PDF returned 404 Inside those areas a small HMO of 3 to 6 people needs full planning permission; outside them it is permitted development, subject to licensing. Check the exact address on the council's map or with the postcode checker below.

Coversnamed areas: Falmouth (town urban area excluding the Docks; reported in force from 2017-06-16 by Falmouth Town Council and solicitors); Cornwall Council's Article 4 page confirms HMO directions exist and points to its Constraint Checker but does not list areas or dates, and its Falmouth confirmation notice PDF returned 404Council pagewww.cornwall.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/planning-aMapcouncil mapChecked8 September 2026

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 Cornwall

Mandatory HMO licence: 5 or more people forming 2 or more households sharing facilities.

Additional licensing: none found. Council HMO licence page describes mandatory licensing only (5 or more people forming 2 or more households sharing facilities); no additional scheme mentioned.

Selective licensing: none found. No selective licensing scheme mentioned on the council HMO licensing or HMO planning pages.

Full licensing detail for Cornwall

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.

See this on every listing.Kerbio puts the Article 4 answer, licensing, the council's HMO register and sold prices on the Rightmove, Zoopla or OnTheMarket page itself. Free for 7 days, then £39 a month.
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Sources: Cornwall council, planning.data.gov.uk Article 4 direction areas, gov.uk HMO licensing. Indicative; confirm with the council before you offer.