Sefton Council: Article 4 Direction for HMOs

What is the Sefton Article 4 direction?

Sefton Council has an Article 4 direction in force for houses in multiple occupation. The direction applies to Southport, Bootle, 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 Sefton Article 4 direction applies to the following wards and areas:

• Southport
• Bootle

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 Sefton's published map before assuming permission isn't required.

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