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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of planning permission requirements for Houses in Multiple Occupation.

National permitted development rights allow a C3 dwellinghouse to change use to a C4 House in Multiple Occupation for up to six people sharing facilities without the need for a planning application. Larger Houses in Multiple Occupation require a planning application which the local authority will determine in accordance with the local development plan and following public consultation.

Local authorities can remove the permitted development right to protect local amenity or wellbeing of the area by introducing an ‘Article 4’ direction.

The Department do not hold data on how many Houses in Multiple Occupation have been created through permitted development rights.