Article 4 Direction on HMOs

Newcastle City Council has given notice of its intention to make an Article 4 Direction across parts of eight wards in the city. This means that landlords must seek planning permission to convert family homes into Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs) with up to 6 tenants within these designated areas. HMOs with 7 or more tenants will continue to require planning permission no matter where they are situated in the City.

The consultation process will run up to January 7, 2011, and the council hopes to get the direction in place by November 2011. The move follows changes to the law which removed existing legislation - introduced by the previous Government - which required landlords to seek planning permission to change family houses into HMOs in all parts of the City.

In North Jesmond all of the ward will be covered by the Direction, except for the north east corner bounded by Jesmond Dene Rd, The Grove, the middle of Osborne Rd and Jesmond Dene Rd - with the following exceptions - Sycamore Close is NOT included, whilst the houses on the north side of Osborne Rd between North Jesmond Avenue and Mitchell Avenue are included.