Article 4 by council › Luton
HMO Article 4 in Luton
Do you need planning permission to turn a family home into a small HMO in Luton? What the council's own direction says, with dates, the map and the source.
No. Luton had no HMO Article 4 direction in force when checked.
A small HMO of 3 to 6 people is permitted development in Luton, subject to HMO licensing. Checked 8 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.
Licensing in Luton
Mandatory HMO licence: 5 or more people forming 2 or more households sharing facilities.
Additional licensing: yes, whole district (from 5 February 2024).
Selective licensing: yes, named areas: Town centre and Park Town areas of Luton (from 1 June 2026).
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.
Sources: Luton council, planning.data.gov.uk Article 4 direction areas, gov.uk HMO licensing. Indicative; confirm with the council before you offer.