Article 4 by council › Oldham
HMO Article 4 in Oldham
Do you need planning permission to turn a family home into a small HMO in Oldham? What the council's own direction says, with dates, the map and the source.
Yes. The whole of Oldham is covered by an HMO Article 4 direction.
whole borough In force since 1 January 2026. Converting a family home (use class C3) to a small HMO of 3 to 6 people (class C4) needs full planning permission anywhere in Oldham.
Made 22 Sep 2025.
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 Oldham
Mandatory HMO licence: 5 or more people forming 2 or more households sharing facilities.
Additional licensing: none found. HMO page lists mandatory licensing criteria and notes an HMO may also need a licence if in a Selective Licensing area; no additional scheme mentioned.
Selective licensing: yes, named areas: not listed in page text (map, Notice of Designation and street list documents linked; notice PDF returned 404).
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: Oldham council, planning.data.gov.uk Article 4 direction areas, gov.uk HMO licensing. Indicative; confirm with the council before you offer.