Article 4 by council › Hackney

HMO Article 4 in Hackney

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

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

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

Coversno HMO direction; directions cover Class E, B8 and launderette to C3, conservation areas and one pubCouncil pagehackney.gov.uk/article-4-directions/Checked8 September 2026

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 Hackney

Mandatory HMO licence: 5 or more people forming 2 or more households sharing facilities.

Additional licensing: yes, whole borough (from 1 May 2026).

Selective licensing: yes, named wards: 17 of 21 wards (list not given on pages read) (from 1 May 2026).

Full licensing detail for Hackney

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