Warrington landlords, since the 25th of September 2026, turning a house into a small HMO in six central wards needs planning permission. Until that date it did not.
This is not a licensing scheme. Warrington still has no selective or additional licensing designation. This is a planning control, and it answers a different question.
What Is Changing in Warrington?
Normally, changing a house, use class C3, into a small HMO for three to six unrelated people, use class C4, is permitted development under Class L of Part 3, Schedule 2 of the General Permitted Development Order.
An Article 4 direction removes that right in a defined area. Warrington Borough Council made this one on the 24th of September 2025, with effect from the 25th of September 2026.
So in those six wards, that conversion now needs planning permission.
Which Wards Are Covered?
- Orford
- Poplars and Hulme
- Fairfield and Howley
- Latchford East
- Latchford West
- Bewsey and Whitecross
The exact boundaries are the areas edged red on the plan attached to the direction. This is not borough-wide. Outside those six wards, nothing has changed.
What Is Not Affected
Existing lawful HMOs. A direction removes a permitted development right going forward. It does not undo a change of use already lawfully carried out. If the property was lawfully in C4 use before the direction took effect, it stays lawful.
Going the other way. The direction withdraws C3 to C4 only. Turning an HMO back into a single dwelling is untouched.
Large HMOs, seven or more people. Those always needed planning permission.
Licensing. Licensing requirements are unaffected.
If you already run a small HMO in one of the six wards, keep the evidence that it was in lawful HMO use before the 25th of September. Tenancy agreements, council tax records, licensing correspondence.
Licensing and Planning Are Two Different Questions
Whether a property needs an HMO licence is a Housing Act question. It depends on how many people live there and in how many households.
Whether a property may be an HMO at all is a planning question. It depends on what the building is permitted to be.
A licence does not grant planning permission.
A three-person share in Latchford needs no licence and, since the 25th of September, does need planning permission. A six-person share in Orford needs both.
Those are not the same question.
Why This Matters
The most expensive mistake in this market is not a missed licence. It is buying a house to run as an HMO, getting the licence in order, and then finding the building was never allowed to be an HMO in the first place.
Article 4 directions for HMOs are spreading. Harrow brought one in on the 12th of June 2026. If your due diligence has one compliance line on it, it needs two.
What Landlords Should Do Now
1. Buying in one of the six wards with HMO intent
Check the planning position before exchange, and allow for a planning application.
2. Already running a small HMO there
Collect the evidence of lawful use before the 25th of September and keep it on file.
3. Everywhere
Run licensing and planning as two separate checks on every property.
Why Landlords Get This Wrong
- "It's a licensing change." It is not. Nothing changed about licences.
- "It's borough-wide." It is six wards.
- "We have the licence, so the use must be fine." A licence is not planning permission.
- "It's an existing HMO, so nothing to do." Nothing to apply for, but the evidence of lawful use is worth having now rather than later.
How Yuno Can Help
Yuno checks both the licensing and the planning position on a property. We can help you:
- confirm whether an address falls inside one of the six wards
- establish the planning position before you buy or convert
- run licensing and planning as two separate checks across a portfolio
- review your documents and compliance position
If you would like our team's support, feel free to book a free 15-minute call.