Tameside introduces an immediate Article 4 blocking HMOs

Tameside council voted this week to introduce an immediate Article 4 blocking PD rights to go from C3 to C4 despite the potential threat of compensation claims. Tameside is one of the ten boroughs that make up Greater Manchester, England. 

We have recently seen a few local authorities vote to restrict the growth of HMOs in the region. 

This affects those in the towns of Ashton-under-Lyne, Denton, Droylsden, Dukinfield, Hyde, Mossley, and Stalybridge, along with Audenshaw and Longdendale from using permitted development to create an HMO.

This means that you will need planning to go from a use falling within Class C3 (dwellinghouse) to a use falling within Class C4 (Houses in Multiple Occupation) across the borough of Tameside. This was previously permitted development for between 3 and 6 people.

Larger HMOs of 7 or more, which is Sui Generis, have always required planning permission. These are unaffected. 

This took effect from 2nd October 2025. The Tameside HMO direction and maps can be downloaded via our Article 4 HMO Map page.

Any HMO in Tameside, created by moving at least 3 unrelated tenants in on ASTs before 1st October 2025 is unaffected by this new Article 4 Direction. However here at Planning Geek, we would recommend a certificate of lawfulness once the new Article 4 direction is in place. We can assist you with this. Please complete the form found here.

However in the Article 4 FAQ on the Tameside website, under the title of Property in the midst of conversion it says

If the conversion was completed before the 2 October 2025 you will not need to apply for retrospective planning permission.  If works have significantly advanced by 2 October 2025 but are yet to be completed,  you should apply for a Lawful Development Certificate – Existing Use to prove it was lawful at the time the Article 4 Direction came into effect.

If you are intending to convert a property (even if previously advised planning permission wasn’t required), you will need to apply for planning permission.

Note that this FAQ does not suggest that you need to have occupied or obtained 3 or more tenants on separate ASTs. We would suggest a certificate of lawfulness. In Impey v SoSE [1980] 47 P&CR 157, it was held that a change of use may have begun even if the use itself has not started.

Consultation period

Compensation could be due in Tameside

As a result of the immediate Article 4, compensation could be due for anyone currently planning an HMO in the borough of Tameside

Importantly any planning application must be submitted to Tameside by 1st October 2026 (within 12 months of the direction coming into force), if the result of that application causes the applicant to suffer financial loss, compensation could be due. You must claim for compensation within 12 months of the decision date, which could we well into 2027 or even 2028. Use this form to request a fee proposal from Planning Geek for the application. 

More information on Article 4 compensation can be found on this page. 

Compensation could include:

Abortive expenditure, which could include preparatory work such as professional fees, plans, and reports. This might include using the services of a planning consultant such as Planning Geek
Other loss of damage directly attributable to the withdrawal of the permitted right i.e. the difference in the value of land if the development had been carried out and its value in its current state
Reduction in profit in carrying out the smaller development
The cost in complying with conditions i.e. bike storage

Further Reading

Further reading on Article 4s on Planning Geek

How to prepare for an Article 4 incoming
Map of all Article 4s affecting HMOs in England.

You can find more details on Article 4s, in our dedicated Article 4 section, which can also be accessed via the URL of https://article4.co.uk

Planning Geek Tameside Article 4 Page updated: 2nd October 2025