Article 4 by council › Cyngor Gwynedd

HMO Article 4 in Cyngor Gwynedd

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

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

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

CoversWales: there is no permitted development right for C3 to C4, so planning permission is required for any 3-6 person HMO anywhere in the authority since 25 Feb 2016 (WSI 2016/28 Use Classes amendment; WSI 2016/29 permits C4 to C3 only). HMO Article 4 directions are therefore not used in Wales. Gwynedd's only Article 4 direction concerned second homes and holiday lets, not HMOs, and was quashed (High Court 27 Nov 2025; appeal refused 6 Feb 2026), so no Article 4 is in force in the Gwynedd LPA area.Council pagewww.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/en-gb/planning-building-control-and-lChecked8 September 2026

Eryri National Park Authority has its own (second homes) Article 4 in its part of Gwynedd.

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 Cyngor Gwynedd

Mandatory HMO licence: 5 or more people forming 2 or more households sharing facilities. Every landlord must also be registered and licensed with Rent Smart Wales.

Additional licensing: a scheme has ended. Gwynedd Council Additional Licensing of HMOs Scheme 2021-2026: designated by Cabinet Member for Housing 21 May 2021, effective 4 June 2021, ceased 3 June 2026 per the council public notice; the council HMO page still states the additional licence applies to all of Gwynedd but gives no dates and no 2026 renewal designation was found

Selective licensing: none found. not a Welsh licensing category

Full licensing detail for Cyngor Gwynedd

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