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New HMO Planning Controls Confirmed for Potters Bar | Reform UK Hertsmere
New HMO Planning Controls Confirmed for Potters Bar
New planning controls will require permission before family homes in Potters Bar can be converted into small HMOs.
Article Summary
At a Glance
The key points you need to know.
What This Means For Residents
From 6 May 2027, proposals to convert family homes into small HMOs in Potters Bar will require planning permission. Residents will be able to view and comment on applications, while the council can consider the potential effect on parking, neighbouring homes and the character of the surrounding area.
Key Facts
✓The controls cover all four Potters Bar wards.
✓The Article 4 Direction takes effect on 6 May 2027.
✓Converting a family home into a small HMO will require planning permission.
✓The controls do not impose a complete ban on HMOs.
✓Residents will be able to comment on individual planning applications.
✓Effective monitoring and enforcement will remain essential.
What Happens Next
Existing permitted development arrangements will remain in place until 6 May 2027. Hertsmere Borough Council should publish further information before implementation. Once the direction takes effect, future small HMO conversions will need to follow the planning application process, alongside any separate housing and licensing requirements.
The Full Story
New planning controls for Houses in Multiple Occupation have been confirmed across Potters Bar following a public consultation.
Hertsmere Borough Council has sealed and approved an Article 4 Direction covering all four Potters Bar wards. The new controls will come into force on 6 May 2027.
From that date, planning permission will be required before a family home can be converted into a small House in Multiple Occupation, commonly known as an HMO.
What is an HMO?
A House in Multiple Occupation is a property occupied by several people who are not all part of the same household and who share facilities such as a kitchen or bathroom.
HMOs can provide an important source of accommodation. However, residents have raised concerns about the effect that a high concentration of HMOs can have on established residential areas.
These concerns can include additional pressure on parking, waste collection and local services, as well as noise, overcrowding and changes to the character of residential streets.
What is an Article 4 Direction?
In normal circumstances, a family home can be converted into a small HMO for up to six occupants without a full planning application. This is usually allowed under national permitted development rights.
An Article 4 Direction removes that automatic right within a defined area.
Once the Potters Bar direction takes effect, anyone wishing to convert a family home into a small HMO will have to submit a planning application to Hertsmere Borough Council.
This does not amount to a ban on HMOs, nor does it mean that every future application will be refused. It means each proposed conversion can be considered through the normal planning process.
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The council will be able to examine the potential effect on the property, neighbouring homes and the wider area before deciding whether permission should be granted.
Residents will also be able to view and comment on individual planning applications.
Which areas are included?
The Article 4 Direction will cover all four Potters Bar wards:
✓Potters Bar Parkfield
✓Potters Bar Oakmere
✓Potters Bar Furzefield
✓Bentley Heath and The Royds
The direction was originally made on 23 April 2026. Residents, landlords and other interested parties were then invited to take part in a public consultation.
Hertsmere Borough Council confirmed the direction on 12 August 2026 and formally announced its approval on 26 August.
However, the additional controls will not come into force until 6 May 2027.
Why is there a delay?
Article 4 Directions affecting permitted development rights are commonly introduced with advance notice.
This gives property owners, landlords and other interested parties time to understand and prepare for the change. Until the direction takes effect, the existing permitted development arrangements will continue to apply.
Residents should therefore be aware that the council’s announcement confirms a future change rather than an immediate new restriction.
Greater oversight must be backed by enforcement
Reform UK Hertsmere welcomes greater scrutiny of proposed HMO conversions in Potters Bar and the opportunity for residents to have their views considered.
Giving the council additional planning control is an important step, but introducing new rules alone will not resolve every concern.
The controls must be supported by effective monitoring and enforcement. The council must be prepared to investigate suspected unauthorised conversions, respond to residents’ concerns and take appropriate action when planning or licensing rules are breached.
The distinction between planning permission and HMO licensing must also remain clear. Receiving planning permission does not remove any separate responsibility to comply with housing, safety or licensing requirements.
Listening to Potters Bar residents
Concerns about HMOs have featured strongly in conversations with residents and are included in the Reform UK Hertsmere residents’ survey for Potters Bar.
We will continue listening to residents and pressing for proper oversight of HMO conversions, appropriate enforcement and planning decisions that respect local neighbourhoods.
Residents who are concerned about a particular property should record relevant details and report suspected planning or housing breaches through the appropriate council service.
Reform UK Hertsmere will continue providing updates as the implementation date approaches and further information becomes available.
