HMO conversion in London: Article 4, licensing, and what's different locally

Article 4 is borough by borough, not city-wide

London has no single city-wide Article 4 direction for HMOs. Instead, roughly 22 boroughs, including Barnet, Brent, Camden, Ealing, Enfield, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Newham, Redbridge, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth and Westminster, have their own borough-wide direction removing the automatic right to convert a family home (C3) into a small HMO (C4). Other boroughs, including Barking and Dagenham, Bromley, Croydon, Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Kingston, Richmond and Sutton, apply Article 4 only to specific wards or areas rather than the whole borough. The practical result: the same conversion that needs full planning permission in one borough can be permitted development a few streets away in the next one, so checking the specific borough, not a general London rule, is the first step for any HMO conversion here.

Additional licensing is moving fast in 2026

Several London boroughs are actively launching or renewing additional licensing schemes through 2026: Brent's borough-wide scheme relaunched on 2 February 2026 at £1,040 for five years, up from £840 previously; Hackney's borough-wide scheme began on 1 May 2026; and Havering, Hillingdon, Harrow and Croydon all have new schemes launching between March and September 2026. Ealing's existing scheme runs to March 2027, with a renewal under consultation. A property that was licence-free last year may not be this year, so checking the specific borough's current scheme, not last year's status, matters before budgeting a conversion.

What this means for a London HMO conversion

Given how borough-specific both Article 4 status and licensing schemes are, the single most valuable step before committing to a London HMO conversion is a direct check with the specific borough's planning and licensing teams for the exact address, rather than relying on a borough-wide assumption from a neighbouring property or an out-of-date guide.

For the national planning and licensing rules this local guide builds on, see the UK HMO conversion guide. For finding HMO-conversion candidates in London before they are listed, see how to find off-market property in the UK, and for a strategy that often pairs with HMO conversion, see BRR in London.

Common questions

Does London have a city-wide Article 4 direction for HMOs?

No. Article 4 HMO directions in London are set borough by borough. Roughly 22 boroughs have a borough-wide direction; others apply it only to specific wards or areas, so the specific borough needs checking for any given address.

Which London boroughs currently have borough-wide Article 4 HMO directions?

As of 2026, boroughs including Barnet, Brent, Camden, Ealing, Enfield, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Newham, Redbridge, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth and Westminster have borough-wide directions. This list changes, so it should be confirmed directly with the relevant borough before relying on it.

Are London HMO licensing fees the same everywhere?

No. Each borough sets its own additional or selective licensing scheme and fee. Brent's relaunched scheme from February 2026 charges £1,040 for five years; other boroughs' fees and scheme dates differ, and several boroughs are launching or renewing schemes through 2026.

Article 4 and licensing details for London verified against multiple local sources (council pages and specialist property-compliance sites), August 2026. This is general information, not legal or planning advice; always confirm current Article 4 and licensing status with the relevant local authority for the specific address.