New rules introduced by a council in south east England will prevent smaller homes from being converted into Houses of Multiple Occupation in three wards.

The rules mean that proposals to convert houses into HMOs will need to go through Arun council’s normal planning process, rather than being allowed under ‘permitted development’.

This will prevent buildings in parts of Bognor Regis and Littlehampton from being turned into small HMOs. 

The new rules, called Article 4 directions, are a planning tool that can be used in a local area to remove ‘permitted development rights’ for certain types of development, so that planning permission must be obtained before development can take place. They are used to place restrictions on residential property conversions in areas which already have high levels of HMOs.

A council spokesman says: “This is great news for Arun. These changes will allow the council to protect the quality of our natural and built environment as a planning application will now need to be made before converting a house into an HMO for up to six people. This will allow us to better manage the creation of HMOs and their impact on the wellbeing of the community in these three wards.

“We understand the need for development, but as we say in our council vision, it’s about delivering the right homes in the right places.”

‘Small’ HMOs of up to six people are called C4 use class. The Article 4 direction means that any proposed development or conversion of property in the three wards named to make a C4 HMO must now be subject to making a planning application for the council to determine.