Article 4 by council › Sutton
HMO Article 4 in Sutton
Do you need planning permission to turn a family home into a small HMO in Sutton? What the council's own direction says, with dates, the map and the source.
Yes. The whole of Sutton is covered by an HMO Article 4 direction.
whole borough (non-immediate direction made 2024-02-22, confirmed 2024-11-26) In force since 22 February 2025. Converting a family home (use class C3) to a small HMO of 3 to 6 people (class C4) needs full planning permission anywhere in Sutton.
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 Sutton
Mandatory HMO licence: 5 or more people forming 2 or more households sharing facilities.
Additional licensing: yes, whole borough.
Selective licensing: none found. Council page states Sutton operates two active schemes, mandatory and additional; no selective scheme
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: Sutton council, planning.data.gov.uk Article 4 direction areas, gov.uk HMO licensing. Indicative; confirm with the council before you offer.