4 February 2019
Possible Article 4 blocking new HMOs - Croydon
Planning
Croydon Council are carrying out a six-week consultation period about whether to introduce an Article 4 Directive ending permitted development rights to create HMOs.
It is thought the regulation will come into force in January 2020, and so those wishing to change the designation of any properties in the Borough would be advised to get expert planning advice now. It is thought some HMO landlords may seek to sell their properties in order to exit the market - if so our residential development team (led by rplant@shw.co.uk / 020 8662 2718) may well be interested in bringing these to market.
The proposed move follows similar regulation in locations such as Manchester, Brighton & Hove, Reading and parts of Greater London.
SHW Senior Planner Chris Heather said: "Property owners in Croydon need to think about how this affects the management of assets. Possible actions could be to obtain a certificate of lawfulness to demonstrate that the current use as HMO is lawful (and this should not be left until the last minute), or it could be to change the use of the HMO to flats."
Contact:
Chris Heather
020 8662 2710
