Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council: Article 4 Direction for HMOs

What is the Dudley Article 4 direction?

Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council has an Article 4 direction in force for houses in multiple occupation. The direction applies to Halesowen, Brierley Hill, Stourbridge, where landlords and developers must apply for planning permission to convert a dwellinghouse (Class C3) into a small HMO (Class C4).

Wards and areas covered

The Dudley Article 4 direction applies to the following wards and areas:

• Halesowen
• Brierley Hill
• Stourbridge

What this means for HMO investors

Because the Article 4 direction applies to specific wards or zones rather than the whole council area, the planning impact depends on the exact location of the property. Investors should check the precise postcode against Dudley's published map before assuming permission isn't required.

If you're considering acquiring or converting a property in Dudley, 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.