Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what planning policy and guidance he has issued in relation to planning applications to convert a single dwelling into a House of Multiple Occupation.

The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) (Amendment) (England) Order 2010 introduced a new Use Class, Class C4 (houses in multiple occupation). This covers use of a dwellinghouse by not more than six residents as a house in multiple occupation within the meaning of section 254 of the Housing Act 2004, excluding converted blocks of flats to which section 257 of that Act applies.

Houses in multiple occupation are not explicitly referenced in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) published in December 2024.

Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, we consulted on a new NPPF. The consultation on the revised framework, which can be found on gov.uk here, included proposals for a more flexible Article 4 policy so local planning authorities can remove permitted development rights where it is necessary to protect the amenity or wellbeing of an area, for instance where there is an overconcentration of small Houses in Multiple Occupation. We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.

The government has published no specific guidance in respect of planning applications to convert single dwellings into houses in multiple occupation.