Spelthorne Council is introducing new controls to limit the spread of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) with the first measures coming into force today.
From 29 August 2025, an Article 4 Direction will apply in Staines, Ashford North & Stanwell South, and Stanwell North.
The move removes current permitted development rights that allow homes to be converted into small HMOs – accommodating up to six people – without planning consent. Any new conversions in these wards will now require full planning permission.
Large HMOs, with seven or more occupants, already require permission and this rule remains unchanged.
GREATER CONTROL
The council said the new powers are designed to give it greater control over the location and concentration of HMOs, which can place pressure on local services and alter the character of residential areas if clustered in high numbers.
To ensure a consistent approach, the authority has also laid down a second Article 4 Direction that would extend the same requirement to all other wards in the borough. Subject to confirmation, this will come into effect on 13 March 2026.
Cllr Michele Gibson, Chair of Spelthorne’s Borough Council’s Planning Committee, says: “We have listened carefully to the concerns raised by residents about the rapid increase of HMOs in some of our communities.
“These changes will give us a vital tool to manage and control this type of development, ensuring it happens in a way that protects the character of our neighbourhoods and supports sustainable growth.”
