HMO planning permission examples — what gets approved & refused
13,081 real decisions from 251 UK councils. See what actually gets approved, what gets refused, and why — so you don’t waste thousands on drawings for something your council will reject.
Last updated: September 2026
Category-level approval rates for these examples are currently withheld while we re-check how decisions are sorted into project types. Each decision below is a real record from the council’s own planning portal and links to it. Council-level approval rates are unaffected and remain on the council pages.
13,081
Decisions
8,703
Approved
4,378
Refused
251
Councils
HMO (House in Multiple Occupation) applications convert single dwellings into shared housing. Many councils have specific HMO policies and some operate Article 4 directions requiring planning permission for all HMO conversions.
⚠️ These are national examples. Your council could be stricter — or more lenient. See what actually gets approved on your street →
Real hmo decisions
Real examples showing what works — and what gets refused. Use the filters to compare approved and refused applications.
Refused
Application for non-material amendment following grant of planning permission HOUSE/MAL/16/01079 (Remove conservatory and construct a new two storey extension. Remove flat roofed garage and porch to front and replace with a new pitched roof porch with two new pitched roof dormer windows to first flo
Approved
Change of use from C3 dwelling to C4 6 bed, 6 person HMORear dormer loft conversion and front velux rooflights, conversion of existing attached rear outbuilding, to form part of the internal layout of the building
Approved
Single storey side extension, two storey rear extension to existing building with landscaping alterations to increase to a 10 bed HMO (amended elevations received 5/7/2021) (additional highways information received 16/7/21)
Approved
Improvements to existing hard and soft landscaping, perimeter security fencing and gates along Richmond Road and Hurst Road frontages, including removal of 1no. vehicular entrance and replacement with widened pedestrian and cycle access.
Refused
Listed building consent for conversion of an existing 4 bedroom HMO (C4) to 5 bedroom serviced accommodation (C1)
Approved
Proposed part two storey, part single storey rear extension. Hip to gable loft conversion with rear dormer to rear and rooflights to front. Existing parapet to front bay replaced with gable end. Extensions to facilitate change of use from C4 (HMO up to 6 occupants) to a 7 bed HMO (Sui Generis).
Approved
Retrospective application for Change of use of ground floor area from Hot Food Takeaway to Hairdressers (Class E)and Separation / Division of existing 3 Bedroom Flat to create a self contained HMO (Class C4)
Approved
T1 - Sweet Chestnut - Sweet chestnut ( located in school grounds) Remove x2 limbs marked on photo. To reduce density of canopy to increase light to Richmond court flats.T2 Western Red Cedar - Crown lift Western Rd Cedar to eves of the Richmond court roof (approximately 6 metres from ground level).To
Approved
Change of use from existing 6-bed, 6-person HMO (C4) to a 7-bed, 7-person HMO (sui generis) with associated rear roof dormers, roof lights in front roof slope and refuse and cycle storage provisions
Approved
Variation of condtions 2 & 7 of planning permission 19/11270 to allow amended plans to reflect altered window sizes and positions and variation of roof tiles from Richmond slate grey to Marley modern anthracite
Approved
Amendments to planning permission dated 12/02/2026 reference PL/2025/02139/MINFHO for a single storey rear extension to replace existing sunroom, first floor side extension and amendments to front elevation. Namely: (1) Reduction in the amount of new roof area above first floor extension, amend to t
Refused
Change of use from C3 to C4 to provide HMO accommodation and conversion of bedroom to a communal kitchen area and divisions of bedrooms to make additional rooms with associated works.
Refused
Convert to 6 bedroom/person HMO (C4). Single storey side and rear extensions. Loft conversion with rear dormers and alterations. Demolish rear extension.
Refused
Roof alterations to form a dormer to the the front & rear elevation on No29 & No31. Conversion of a four bed HMO into 3 No 1 bedroom flats within No 31.
TWC/2025/0036
Refused
Application under Section 191 for a Certificate of Lawfulness for an existing use of a 7no. bedroom HMO
Refused
Screen walls to all plots excluding plots 298-312, 319-339, 414-430 revised to high spec close board fence. Marley Ashmore tiles amended to Russell Bute (Slate grey and Cottage red)
181374/DPP
Approved
Change of use, alterations and rear extension to existing HMO property to form 4 private residential flats
Approved
Proposed Change of Use of the Property from a Dwellinghouse (Use Class C3) to a Small House in Multiple Occupation (Use Class C4) for Occupation by up to Six Individuals Sharing Communal Facilities.The property will continue to function as a residential dwelling with shared kitchen, living and bathr
Approved
Change of use from a C4 House in Multiple Occupation (6 bedrooms, 6 occupants) to a Sui Generis House in Multiple Occupation (6 bedrooms, 7 occupants). No internal or external alterations are proposed.
Approved
LISTED BUILDING CONSENT: Conversion of ground and first floors from Day Centre use (Class E (f)) to a nine bed House in Multiple Occupation (sui generis); internal alterations including the installation of suspended ceilings, partitions and en suite bathrooms (additional information received 19/03/2
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Approved
Certificate of Lawfulness (Proposed) : Side single storey extension and change of use from a 3 bed property (C3) to a 4 bed 4 person HMO (C4)
Approved
LDC: To confirm that the existing use of the property as a 6-bed HMO (Use Class C4) is lawful.
Approved
Creation of 2 no. 1bed dwellings, 1 no. HMO with 5 bedrooms and 1 no. HMO with 4 bedrooms.
Approved
Erection of single storey extension extending 4.1 metres beyond the rear wall of the original house, with a height to the eaves of 2.9 metres and a total height of 2.9 metres (in association with use as a House in Multiple Occupation)
CL/12/0311
Approved
Change of use from house in multiple occupation to three individual flats to include 6 roof lights.
Approved
Change of use from 6-bedroom small HM0 (Use Class C4) to large 7-bedroom HMO (Sui Generis) and change from garage door to window
Approved
Retrospective application - change of use to house in multiple occupation, comprising 10 bedrooms
Approved
Demolish existing staff accommodation block. Erect hew house, attached to existing lodge building for associated use, with an HMO allowance for up to 6 persons. Small area of existing accommodation block integral to lodge building retained.
Refused
Change of use and alterations to existing storage building to staff (HMO) accommodation for up to 8 staff members
Refused
Change of Use from a mixed use ground floor pub and first floor 3 bedroom apartment to a 7 bedroom HMO.
Refused
Full: Change of use from 3 no. flats to a single large HMO comprising of 12 bedrooms with associated external changes.
Refused
Proposed partial demolition of existing single storey rear outrigger. 3 storey side extension and 2 storey rear extension, change of use from Public House to Restaurant/Cafe with HMO and self contained flat over
Refused
Change of use of existing HMO (use class C4) to larger HMO for 8 residents (use class sui generis)
Approved
Change of Use of Nursing Home (Class 8) to House of Multiple Occupation (HMO) (Sui Generis)
Approved
Change of use from former care home to a house in multiple occupation
Approved
Change Of Use Of Flat To Building for HMO Use (Retrospective)
Approved
Conversion of Bed and Breakfast (use class C1) into HMO (use class C4) and associated external alterations
Approved
Change of use of ground floor flat to HMO and erection of rear extension as caretakers flat and communal lounge. Variation to Planning 20/0416/PP (retrospective in part).
24/00265/FUL
Approved
Retrospective change of use from Use Class C3 (Dwellinghouse) to Use Class C4 (House in multiple occupation).
Approved
Proposed change of use of first, second and third floors of building to form a 19-bedroom House in Multiple Occupation. Works to include formation of internal stairway and expansion of existing connecting stairway, Replacement of all existing windows with new, installation of 3no. new first floor wi
Approved
Change of use from fishmongers to small scale art gallery selling work from loca
Approved
Change of use of first and second floors to HMO 10No. Apartments
Approved
Certificate of lawfulness (proposed) for a change of use from a single dwellinghouse (Use Class C3) to a small House in Multiple Occupation (Use Class C4), with associated internal works.
11/00456/FUL
Approved
Change of use of dwelling to house in multiple occupation (HMO) for 6 occupants
Approved
Retrospective application for the change of use from C3(Dwellinghouse) to C4 (HMO) for 5 Persons
Approved
Change of use of private residence (Use Class C3) to 6 bed HMO (Use Class C4)
Approved
Certificate of Lawfulness for proposed development to establish whether a change of use from C3 to C4 HMO together with alterations of fenestration to rear elevation would be lawful.
Approved
Change of use to 1st & 2nd floors to 4no bed house in multiple occupation(HIMO)
Approved
Change of use from House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) to Class 8 (residential institution) to include entire building
Approved
Permission to regularise basement flat and conversion of house in multiple occupation to 3No. selfcontained flats (4No total), proposed dormer window and associated alterations
09/00403/COU
Approved
Change of use of dwelling to form house in multiple occupation
Approved
Details of condition 3 (bicycle storage) pursuant to planning permission TM/23/03114/FL (Change of use from House of Multiple Occupation (HMO) (C4 use - 6 persons and less) to HMO (Sui Generis - More than 6 persons) allowed at appeal ref APP/H2265/W/24/3339056
Refused
Change of use from a dwelling to a house in multiple occupation (HMO)
Refused
Change of use from a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) (Sui Generis) to Specialist Daycare Nursery (Use Class E(f)) and Children's Home (Use Class C2)
Refused
Retrospective application for change of use from residential dwelling to House in Multiple Occupation.
Refused
Use of the property as a small House in Multiple Occupation (Use Class C4) for up to 6 persons.
Refused
Retrospective change of use of storage building to house in multiple occupation and amendments to fenestration of the building
Refused
Conversion of former club and maisonette dwelling house to HMO
Approved
Change of use of existing residential flat to HMO
Approved
Conversion of 6 bedroom dwelling to C4 HMO use
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