Article 4 by council › Tower Hamlets

HMO Article 4 in Tower Hamlets

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

Yes. The whole of Tower Hamlets is covered by an HMO Article 4 direction.

whole borough In force since 1 January 2021. Converting a family home (use class C3) to a small HMO of 3 to 6 people (class C4) needs full planning permission anywhere in Tower Hamlets.

Coverswhole boroughIn force from1 January 2021Made or confirmed29 January 2020Council pagewww.towerhamlets.gov.uk/lgnl/planning_and_building_control/pMapcouncil mapNational dataset63 direction areas published, 0 for HMOsChecked8 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 Tower Hamlets

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

Additional licensing: yes, whole borough (from 25 October 2023), ends 31 March 2029.

Selective licensing: yes, named wards: Weavers, Whitechapel, Spitalfields and Banglatown (pre-2014 wards), ends 1 October 2026.

Full licensing detail for Tower Hamlets

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.

Add to Chrome

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