Planning for HMOs: A Practical Guide to Planning Permission for Houses in Multiple Occupation

HMO LANDLORDS BEWARE - THE PLANNERS ARE COMING.

The HMO sector has boomed over the past 12 years – landlords have boosted returns by buying up houses, extending them and renting them to several sharers. This boom has drawn the attention of the planners, who have been turning the screws. In some areas, all houses or flats occupied by three or more people need planning permission (thanks to the spread of Article 4 Directions). Where permission is needed, planning policies are often very restrictive. HMOs operating without permission are targeted more aggressively by planning enforcement teams.

Simply put, more and more HMOs need planning permission, and that planning permission is harder to get.

Planning for HMOs arms landlords and investors with the knowledge to navigate these choppy planning waters. It explains how HMOs are defined in planning terms, when planning permission is required, how to get it, what to do if an application is refused (including how to appeal) and what to do if you are facing enforcement action. It examines statistics on application and appeal success rates for HMOs and provides case studies from across England.

Martin Gaine decided thousands of planning applications in various councils before founding Just Planning, the only consultancy in England dedicated to helping homeowners and property investors to beat the planners. In Planning for HMOs, he provides insights drawn from his own experience in public and private practice to help HMO landlords grow and protect their portfolios.