Article 4 Direction Targets High-Density Investor Rentals in East Lancashire

Councils across East Lancashire are implementing radical steps to prevent the growth of high-density rental accommodation, which is increasingly targeted by investors interested in converting properties into Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). This type of rental requires full planning permission before a family home can be converted into an HMO. In August, the executive body of Burnley agreed to a borough-wide Article 4 Direction, though its implementation has been delayed by 12 months.

The Article 4 Direction seeks to manage the influx of investor interest in the region's relatively cheap housing stock. The move aims to curb the conversion of properties into HMOs, which are shared by three or more unrelated residents with communal facilities.