Brent enforcement notice quashed after successful appeal

We recently won a planning enforcement appeal against the London Borough of Brent, resulting in the enforcement notice being quashed and planning permission being granted for the completed extensions to the property. Brent is our busiest borough for planning enforcement work. We deal with more enforcement cases in Brent than in any other council area, […]

Enforcement appeal allowed for HMO in Newham

In this case, our client appealed against an enforcement notice issued by the London Borough of Newham alleging an unlawful change of use of a house to a small house in multiple occupation (HMO). The enforcement notice required the use of the property as a HMO to cease. We appealed the notice under ground (a), asking the […]

Certificate of lawfulness granted for HMO in Enfield

We recently obtained a certificate of lawfulness for a HMO in Enfield. A HMO in use class C4 is residential accommodation for up to six individuals from at least two households. The application related to a property which had been used as a HMO for a period exceeding ten years, but without the benefit of […]

Planning Permission Granted for HMO and Extensions in Merton

We recently obtained planning permission for extensions to a house and its change of use to a smaller House in Multiple Occupation (Class C4). The application related to an end-of-terrace house on a residential road in Colliers Wood. The proposal included a rear dormer roof extension, a single-storey rear extension and the conversion of the […]

Planning Appeal Success – 8-Person HMO in Hillingdon

This case concerned an appeal against the refusal of planning permission for the conversion of a single dwellinghouse into an eight-person house in multiple occupation (HMO) in the London Borough of Hillingdon. HMOs with seven or more occupants fall outside the C4 use class and are treated as sui generis, meaning that planning permission is […]

HMO Planning Permission Granted in Enfield (Class C4 Change of Use)

HMO Planning Permission Granted in Enfield We were recently successful in obtaining planning permission for the change of use of a single dwellinghouse to a smaller House in Multiple Occupation (Class C4) for six residents. Like many London boroughs, Enfield has removed permitted development rights for the change of use from a single dwellinghouse (Class […]

Certificate of lawfulness granted for long-established HMO in Newham

Councils across the country have been taking a much stricter approach to houses in multiple occupation, both when it comes to new HMOs and to existing properties that have been in use for many years. The London Borough of Newham is one of the most restrictive authorities in this respect. First, the borough is covered by an […]

Proving lawful use of a HMO (C4) in Greenwich: a case study

The spread of Article 4 directions Councils across England are using Article 4 directions to remove permitted development rights (PDR) to create houses in multiple occupation (HMOs). In those areas, you need planning permission if you want to rent your house or flat out to 3 or more sharers (i.e. people who aren’t in a […]

Lawful development certificate appeal allowed after refusal

The site and background This case concerned a four-storey end-terraced house at Cross Flatts Parade in Leeds. Planning permission had previously been granted for a change of use from a dwellinghouse to a house in multiple occupation within use class C4. That permission was lawfully implemented and the building was in use as a five-person […]