Birmingham City Council: Article 4 Direction for HMOs

What is the Birmingham Article 4 direction?

Birmingham City Council has a city-wide Article 4 direction in force for houses in multiple occupation (HMOs). This means that across the West Midlands, anyone wishing to change a dwellinghouse (Class C3) into a small HMO (Class C4, 3-6 unrelated occupants) must apply for planning permission - the 'permitted development' right that normally allows this change has been removed.

Areas covered

Replaced earlier directions for Selly Oak/Harborne/Edgbaston

What this means for HMO investors

Because the Article 4 direction is borough/city-wide, every residential property in Birmingham's area is affected. Investors planning to acquire and convert family homes into HMOs in this area should budget time and cost for a full planning application, even for properties that would otherwise qualify as small HMOs under permitted development.

If you're considering acquiring or converting a property in Birmingham, factor planning permission into your due-diligence timeline and budget. Refused applications can scupper a deal, and unauthorised conversions risk enforcement action and lender complications.