South Kesteven District Council: Article 4 Direction for HMOs

What is the South Kesteven Article 4 direction?

South Kesteven District Council is currently consulting on a proposed Article 4 direction for houses in multiple occupation. If approved, planning permission will be required for conversions from Class C3 (dwellinghouses) to Class C4 (small HMOs) in Grantham, Stamford, Bourne, Market Deeping - removing the 'permitted development' right that currently allows this change.

Wards and areas covered

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

• Grantham
• Stamford
• Bourne
• Market Deeping

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 South Kesteven's published map before assuming permission isn't required.

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