HMO Planning Permissions are Our Expertise

At Homz, with over 950 HMO projects we have an excellent understanding of planning policy and extensive experience in HMO Planning Applications and HMO Licences all throughout the UK.

We’ve completed hundreds of successful HMO conversion projects, including Article 4 Direction area and Conservation Area throughout the UK. We’ll streamline your multi-let property development process by creating HMO planning drawings, designing profitable layouts according to regulations, preparing HMO planning statements, and securing your HMO planning permission.

Secure Your HMO Planning Permission Consent and HMO Licensing With Ease

Our Senior Chartered Town Planners and Architects make sure that your HMO complies with the space and regulations while meeting all of the necessary planning criteria.

Change of Use planning applications are subject to specific planning regulations and guidelines in the UK. Numerous new HMO (Houses in Multiple Occupation) regulations are being launched on a daily basis, each accompanied by a new set of requirements. However, we’ll support you every step of the way with our vast expertise and guidance.

HMO Conversions (C4 Use Class or Sui Generis Use Class) has its own set of rules and requirements depending on each council, which must be considered before embarking on an HMO conversion project. The most common planning applications are C3 to C4 Conversion or from C3 to Class Sui Generis; from single dwellinghouse to HMO. Homz is your one-stop planning consultancy solution partner for all types of planning permissions, consents and licenses for HMOs in the UK.

Every council has different policies for HMO planning permission. If your property is in a particular area such as Conservation Area or your council operates Article 4 Direction then your permitted development rights are removed concerning conversions to houses in multiple occupation. It’s best if you check the prerequisites before you invest, contact us to get professional advice.

Moreover, depending on the planning background and size of your HMO you might require some kind of planning permission. Councils can be highly restricted when it comes to share basic amenities, loss of family home in the area, access to public transport, and also about the self contained flats. Our Town Planners are here to provide you Pre-Planning Advice on whether you need to apply for planning permission and the likelihood of success of your application or not. Feel free to Contact Us with your enquiries and our expert team will get in touch with a FREE No Obligation Chat regarding your application.

Unbeatable Success in HMO Planning Applications with our Extensive Expertise in HMO Conversions

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Why Choose Homz UK For Your HMO Planning Permission?

Eliminate the Risk of Planning Application Refusal With Our Skilled HMO Agents

1. Full Planning Appraisal For Your HMO

Every client would like to know if their application would be successful with permission before spending their budget on planning the application. Our chartered planners will review your project, examine the relevant planning policies, and analyse the relevant planning history to provide you a Pre-Planning AdviceYou can easily book your call with one of our chartered planners in the same day! Following your call, your planner will conduct the Planning Appraisal Report which will include all the answers in only 2 working days.

Professional Planning Advice by Homz
Homz Change Of Use Of Single Dwelling To An HMO For 6 Bedrooms – London Borough of Waltham Forest - Proposed Plans by Homz

2. Application Preparation and Submission By Our Expert Team

Making a planning application might be risky, and it becomes riskier the less you’re prepared for it. Preparing a comprehensive application that includes relevant forms on the planning portal, supporting documents, and plans, ensuring compliance with local authority guidelines. Our HMO (House in Multiple Occupation) expert architects and town planners will provide you with HMO plans and supporting statements with correct technical information, which are prerequisites to getting full planning permission done.

3. Our HMO Specialists Will Manage Your Application

While each HMO C3 to C4 or C4 to Sui Generis Conversion project presents unique challenges, with careful planning, research, and professional guidance, property owners can get the most profit from their project. Our Chartered Town Planning Consultants at Homz have full knowledge of the ever-changing planning policies that any project will be subject to. So, their help could be indispensable — especially if your project is in a designated area of which carries restrictions on building work, such as a Conservation Area, Article 4 Direction or AONB.

Retrospective planning permission application
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4. Specialist Partners To Support Your Application

We have established partnerships with a variety of companies that can assist you with your planning process and provide unique services to support your application. Our partners offer a range of services before or after planning applications, including premises licenses, surveys, and assessments.

How Long Does Planning for a Change of Use Take?

The planning application process can take around 3 months from start to end with your local planning authority but in some cases, it takes about 6-8 months based on the complexity of the proposed project.

We’ll Submit Your Planning Application Only in 2 Weeks!

We think the planning applications do not need to take forever to submit! Our streamlined workflow empowers us to deliver swift and reliable service with confidence. If you want to learn more about our bespoke and innovative approach, then check out Our Process page and here we prepared a video about our unique process.

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We’re working all over the UK with local planning consultants. With over 2000 projects submitted throughout the UK; Homz are a nationwide planning and design consultancy.

Do You Need Planning Permission For an HMO?

Things To Know About HMO Planning Permission and HMO Licensing Process in the UK (2024 Version)

Are you thinking of converting to a small HMO or to a larger HMO; you are not sure if your area has high concentrations for multiple occupation HMOs operate with planning granted. Property conversion to new HMOs might require a Full Planning Application or a Lawful Development Certificate depending on their particular planning assessment. Our HMO Planning Consultants are here to provide you with Pre-Planning Advice on whether planning permission required and the likelihood of success. Feel free to Contact Us with to know more about our success proven process towards to getting HMO (House in Multiple Occupation) planning consent for HMO licence applications.

We’ll Guide You Through the Planning Process with Our Proven Track Record and Expertise

In planning terms, an HMO is a dwelling (house or flat) that is occupied by a certain number of unrelated individuals who share one or more basic amenities such as a kitchen or bathroom. They are commonly known as shared houses; is to rent by students, single person or families. Please note that certain properties are not classified as HMOs under national legislation, such as those managed by Registered Social Landlords. The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 (as amended) classifies HMOs as:

Small HMOUse Class C4 – accommodating between 3 and 6 unrelated individuals, forming more than 1 household or;

Large HMOsClass Sui Generis – accommodating 7 or more unrelated individuals.

A change of use to an HMO (large or small house in multiple occupation) from other uses such as a shop or office, or vice versa, will require planning permission. Some houses in multiple occupations will require planning permission and/or an HMO property licence. This will depend on their size and the number of people that live there. HMOs are defined differently between housing and planning regulations, so you need to make sure you understand these differences.

pre planning advice by Homz

The Common Pitfalls of HMO Applications

We have explained in our article “10 Critical Reasons Your HMO Conversion Planning Permission Could Be Rejected” the most common pitfalls of HMO in detail. Your HMO investment needs to comply with the UK’s national Housing Standards to ensure the minimum bedroom, communal area, kitchen and bathroom sizes and numbers. While HMO space standards need to meet the regulations; it’s evident that more rooms will be more profitable for your HMO investment. Our skilled architects will make the best use of your layout with the right HMO room sizes. Are you converting a 2-bedroom house to a 3-bedroom HMO or 3 3-bedroom house to 4 or more bedrooms; we worked on all scenarios and layouts!

Investing in an HMO property can be a lucrative opportunity, but getting planning permission is a crucial step that can make or break your investment. If your HMO proposal is rejected, it can lead to financial losses and disrupt your investment plans. That’s why it’s essential to consider all the prerequisites required by your local planning authority (LPA). Get in touch with us to get our architects and town planners can help you avoid unnecessary setbacks.

pre planning advice by Homz

HMO Licensing

Licensing HMOs helps make sure that accommodation is safe, well-managed and of good quality. However, not all HMOs need a licence – it’s usually only “large HMOs” in England or Wales that do. A property is defined as a “large HMO” – and must be licensed – if all of the following apply:

  • It’s rented to 5 or more people who form more than one household
  • Some (or all) tenants share toilet, bathroom or kitchen facilities
  • At least one tenant pays rent (or their employer pays it for them)

There are cases where smaller HMOs rented to fewer tenants will need a licence, depending on the area – it’s best if your Planning Consultant checks with your local council. Contact us to get professional advice.

change of use

There are 3 Types of HMO Licensing:

1. Mandatory licensing of large HMOs

This applies to large HMOs as described above – where there are five or more occupants in the property, unrelated people forming more than one household. These HMOs must follow the national minimum sizes for rooms used as sleeping accommodations, and landlords are required to follow council refuse schemes.

2. Additional Licensing

This is when a council imposes a policy that requires other sizes of HMOs to be licensed (like smaller HMOs with fewer tenants). Councils are entitled to bring in new rules at any time, and can ask for all HMOs to be licensed.

3. Selective Licensing

Selective licensing is a local scheme that can affect all rental properties in the area, determined by the borough, regardless of their size, number of storeys, or number of occupants.

Flat Conversion Planning & Design Services by Homz UK

How Much Does HMO Planning Permission Cost?

HMO Architect Plans And Design Services That Comply With Your LPA’s Standards

As Homz UK we pride ourselves with our budget-friendly packages with 40-50 % lower fees compared to our competitors. We also offer Price Match Guarantee if you would like to send through any other quotations you have received we will be happy to match any like for like.

Case Study 01: Planning Appraisal for Change of Use From Single Dwellinghouse C3 to HMO C4 in Conservation Area

The client instructed Homz to provide feasibility on their property for planning purposes for a Change of Use from C3 (Dwellinghouse) to C4 (HMO) in London Borough of Brent. Our Senior Town Planner has conducted research within the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) to understand whether the local planning authority is applying any constraints on your property.

Changes of use from single dwellings to HMOs up to 6 beds, can often be conducted under Permitted Development however throughout Brent, the planning department has implemented Article 4 directions which means that any proposed change of use from a dwelling to an HMO requires planning consent.

While planning approval will be required, we do not believe that the site location should benefit from a reasonable – strong likelihood of success in terms of securing the necessary planning consent.

Changes of use from single dwellings to HMOs up to 6 beds, can often be conducted under Permitted Development however throughout Brent, the planning department has implemented Article 4 directions which means that any proposed change of use from a dwelling to an HMO requires planning consent.

While planning approval will be required, we do not believe that the site location should benefit from a reasonable – strong likelihood of success in terms of securing the necessary planning consent.

Changes of use from single dwellings to HMOs up to 6 beds, can often be conducted under Permitted Development however throughout Brent, the planning department has implemented Article 4 directions which means that any proposed change of use from a dwelling to an HMO requires planning consent.

While planning approval will be required, we do not believe that the site location should benefit from a reasonable – strong likelihood of success in terms of securing the necessary planning consent.

London Borough Of Brent Planning Appraisal Report 1 by Homz

As per the council’s public planning database, the surrounding area has a positive planning history regarding planning applications related to extension and alteration works including loft conversions. This should facilitate a strong precedent for development, further promoting the feasibility and overall likelihood of success. This includes applications for HMOs in the area which have also secured planning approval.

After the planning appraisal, our Architects and Town Planners prepared the supporting documents Architectural Plans, and Planning Statements. Please see the plans of this project in our Portfolio. Our team has successfully submitted and managed the planning application with the council. Following the waiting period of the decision, Homz has scored another successful Approval for this planning application on behalf of our client.

Likelihood of Success:

Provided that an appropriate application is lodged, this proposal should benefit from a reasonable – strong likelihood of success provided that an appropriate application is lodged to the Planning Authority.

Our Expert Architects and Planners Trusted By Over 2,000 Clients So Far! Check Out Some Of The Change of Use Projects Here: