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Article 4 and HMO compensation · Tracker

Immediate Article 4 Directions on small HMOs

Councils in England that have removed the right to convert a house to a small HMO with less than 12 months' notice since the start of 2025. Where that happens, compensation may be possible, but only if a planning application goes in within 12 months of the Direction taking effect. On today's date, 12 of these windows are still open.

CouncilAreaTypeIn forceConfirmedApplication window ends*
BoltonWhole boroughImmediate13 Jun 2025Yes, 15 Nov 202512 Jun 2026 (closed)
Sefton (Aintree)Aintree areaImmediate2 Jul 2025Yes, 4 Dec 20251 Jul 2026 (closed)
Fenland (central Wisbech)Wisbech Riverside and Wisbech South wardsImmediateNot stated by the councilYes, August 2025To be confirmed
RossendaleWhole boroughImmediate19 Sep 2025Yes, 18 Mar 202618 Sept 2026 (closed)
ChorleyWhole boroughImmediate24 Sep 2025Yes, March 202623 Sept 2026 (closed)
HaltonParts of 11 wardsImmediate24 Sep 2025Yes, 12 Feb 202623 Sept 2026 (closed)
Sefton (rest of borough)Rest of the boroughImmediate15 Oct 2025Yes, 5 Feb 202614 Oct 2026 (closed)
South TynesideWhole borough except Lawe TopImmediate3 Dec 2025 (council's statutory notice)Yes, 11 Mar 20262 Dec 2026 (open)
DartfordNorth of the A2Immediate8 Dec 2025Yes, 23 Feb 20267 Dec 2026 (open)
HillingdonWhole boroughImmediate11 Dec 2025Yes, 21 May 202610 Dec 2026 (open)
OldhamWhole boroughShort notice (about 3 months)1 Jan 2026Yes, 15 Dec 202531 Dec 2026 (open)
MedwaySeven wards in Chatham, Gillingham, Luton, Strood and WatlingImmediate22 Jan 2026Not verified. If not confirmed in time it has lapsed21 Jan 2027 (open)
WyreParts of Fleetwood and Thornton-CleveleysImmediate25 Feb 2026Yes, 2 Jul 202624 Feb 2027 (open)
South RibbleWhole boroughImmediate6 Mar 2026Yes, 16 Jul 20265 Mar 2027 (open)
Merton13 wardsImmediate24 Mar 2026Not verified. If not confirmed in time it has lapsed23 Mar 2027 (open)
Hinckley & Bosworth (Hinckley)Streets in and around Hinckley town centreShort notice1 May 2026Date not found30 Apr 2027 (open)
HyndburnAltham, Baxenden, Huncoat, Immanuel, Milnshaw, Overton and St Oswalds wardsImmediateNot stated by the council (made 15 May 2026)PendingTo be confirmed
HarrowWhole boroughImmediate12 Jun 2026Yes, 24 Sep 202611 Jun 2027 (open)
BuryWhole boroughImmediate16 Jul 2026Pending (must be confirmed by 15 Jan 2027)15 Jul 2027 (open)
SwaleWhole boroughImmediateNot stated by the council (made 21 Jul 2026)PendingTo be confirmed
Ribble ValleyWhole boroughImmediate28 Aug 2026Pending (lapses 26 Feb 2027 unless confirmed)27 Aug 2027 (open)

* Our calculation, not a date the council published: the day before the first anniversary of the in-force date, because the application must be made within "the period of 12 months beginning with the date on which the directions took effect" (section 108(2A), Town and Country Planning Act 1990). "To be confirmed" means the council has not stated the in-force date.

"Short notice" means a non-immediate Direction that gave less than 12 months' notice, so the compensation route can still apply. An immediate Direction lapses after six months unless the council confirms it (Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015, Schedule 3, paragraph 2(6)).

This list is not exhaustive. Each council name links to the council page we relied on. Last checked 23 Oct 2026. Always check the Direction, its map and its dates with the council for your own property.

Can you claim? Check your deadlines