Article 4 Direction withdrawing Class L(b) permitted development right for change of use from dwellinghouses (Use Class C3) to small HMOs (Use Class C4) in the wards of Streatham Common & Vale and Streatham St Leonard’s (2024)

With effect from 01 October 2010, the Government introduced a new permitted development right allowing the change of use from residential (Use Class C3) to small Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) (Use Class C4). 

The permitted development right means that it is possible to make a change of use from self-contained residential to small HMO without the need to apply to the local planning authority for planning permission.

On 7 August 2024, the Council made a non-immediate Article 4 Direction withdrawing the Class L (b) permitted development right within the wards of Streatham Common & Vale and Streatham St Leonard’s. 

Relevant documents:

The council consulted on the proposed Article 4 Direction from 12 August to 7 October 2024 and is currently considering all of the representations received. 

The council will then decide whether or not to proceed to confirm the Article 4 Direction. If confirmed, the Direction would come into force 12 months after it was made.