Article 4 by council › Westminster

HMO Article 4 in Westminster

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

No. Westminster had no HMO Article 4 direction in force when checked.

A small HMO of 3 to 6 people is permitted development in Westminster, subject to HMO licensing. Checked 8 September 2026.

Coversno HMO direction; directions cover basements city-wide, Class E to C3 inside and outside the CAZ and seven named streets/estatesCouncil pagewww.westminster.gov.uk/planning-building-control-and-environNational dataset10 direction areas published, 0 for HMOsChecked8 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.

Is a postcode inside an HMO Article 4 area?

Licensing in Westminster

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

Additional licensing: yes, whole borough (from 21 April 2026), ends 30 August 2031.

Selective licensing: yes, named wards: 15 of 18 wards (Abbey Road, Church Street, Harrow Road, Knightsbridge and Belgravia, Little Venice, Maida Vale, Queen's Park, Westbourne, Bayswater, Hyde Park, Lancaster Gate, Marylebone, Pimlico North, Regent's Park, West End); excluded: Pimlico South, St James', Vincent Square.

Full licensing detail for Westminster

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: Westminster council, planning.data.gov.uk Article 4 direction areas, gov.uk HMO licensing. Indicative; confirm with the council before you offer.