Article 4 Directions – what they mean for landlords

Article 4 Directions can help preserve architectural details, but can also mean restrictive development controls.

Put simply an Article 4 Direction issued when a Council wishes to regulate the development of a certain sort of building.

They give the Council specific control over an area’s growth, specifically where the character of an area of acknowledged importance would be threatened, or where further developments would be detrimental to the existing residents. They are often applied to conservation areas.

These Directions are almost always applied to an area, rather than an individual, and will be registered as a Local Land Change.

The main effect of a Direction is to remove the permitted development rights of the area, forcing any would be developer to make a planning application.

A Council must carefully consider an Article 4 Direction, as if they choose to implement one, and then planning permission cannot be obtained for a project which otherwise would have been approved then they can be liable to pay compensation

If a property that you own falls into a zone covered by an Article 4 Direction then nearly all alterations made to the property will require planning permission.

All alterations that affect the appearance of the property will need permission, as well as a change of use of the property, the removal or addition of porches, satellite dishes, updating of windows and doors as well as any alterations to the grounds of the property. Many would consider altering these the normal rights of a homeowner, but when the property is covered by an Article 4 Direction then these modifications require a planning application.

Converting a small family home into an HMO will also require planning permission, and it is specifically this issue that worries student landlords.