Coventry Article 4 Direction: HMO Planning Permission by Ward

What the Article 4 Direction Does

Normally, converting a family home (Use Class C3) into a small HMO with three to six occupants (Use Class C4) counts as permitted development — you don't need planning permission. Coventry's Article 4 Direction, which took effect on 30 September 2023, removes that automatic right in 11 wards across the city.

In those wards, a new conversion from C3 to C4 requires planning permission. The council requires a formal Planning Decision Notice granting full change of use when you apply for the HMO licence.

The 11 Wards Covered

The Article 4 Direction applies in:

1. Cheylesmore
2. Earlsdon
3. Foleshill
4. Lower Stoke
5. Radford
6. St Michael's
7. Sherbourne
8. Upper Stoke
9. Wainbody
10. Westwood
11. Whoberley

These wards cover the areas with the highest HMO density in Coventry — the student corridors around Earlsdon and Canley (Westwood ward), the terraced housing in Foleshill and Radford, and the inner-city areas of Hillfields (St Michael's) and Stoke.

If your property is outside these 11 wards, permitted development rights still apply, and a C3 to C4 conversion doesn't need a separate planning application.

Planning Permission Is Not a Licence

This is where landlords get confused. An HMO property licence from Coventry's Private Sector Housing team and planning permission from the planning department are two entirely separate legal requirements.

Having an HMO licence does not mean you have planning permission. And having planning permission does not mean you have a licence. You need both, and they're administered by different council departments under different legislation.

Operating an HMO in an Article 4 ward without planning consent leaves you exposed to planning enforcement action — a completely separate penalty regime from housing licensing enforcement.

What You Need to Show When Applying for a Licence

When submitting your HMO licence application for a property in one of the 11 Article 4 wards, the portal requires planning evidence. What counts depends on timing:

Property was an HMO before 30 September 2023: you need evidence of continuous HMO use on or before that date. Valid evidence includes historical tenancy agreements, Council Tax student exemption records, or a Lawful Development Certificate (LDC) issued by the planning authority.

Property converted after 30 September 2023: you need a formal Planning Decision Notice granting full change of use from C3 to C4. No planning approval, no licence.

Larger HMOs: Sui Generis

The Article 4 Direction covers C3 to C4 conversions — small HMOs with up to six occupants. Properties housing seven or more occupants fall into sui generis use, which has always required planning permission regardless of the Article 4 Direction. If you're letting to seven or more people, you need planning permission in every ward, not just the 11 listed above.

For ward-by-ward guidance on how planning interacts with the licensing application, see our Coventry Landlord Licensing Guide.

See more England guides →