Another Merseyside council has voted to bring in tougher rules around HMO conversions.

Knowsley is the latest in the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to approve an Article 4 Direction, following neighbouring Liverpool, Sefton and Halton, while St Helen’s Council vowed to “tighten the screws” on HMOs in July.

The last in the authority – Wirral Council – has also this week asked its chief planner to examine the case for introducing an Article 4 Direction, meaning that landlords would need permission to turn a house into a HMO, in all parts of Wirral.

Knowsley currently has about 150 HMOs and the authority reports that it has seen rising numbers, along with complaints – from four in 2020 to 17 in 2025, with a further 17 already received in 2026.

Problems

Councillor Tony Brennan, cabinet member for regeneration and economic development (pictured), says it recognises that HMOs have a part to play in the borough but that problems arise when too many of these types of homes are in one area.

“It can suddenly mean that one home has many more people coming and going, more cars parked outside, and more rubbish building up,” he adds. “We’ve seen some examples where properties and gardens haven’t been well maintained, and have become a blight on the local area, or attracted rodents.”

Immediate

The rules will come into immediate effect as soon as the legal notice has been published and the council will then carry out a 21-day public consultation.

Wirral councillors approved the motion to investigate stronger powers, which was brought forward by councillor Andrew Gardner and unanimously supported, reports Wirral Globe.

Gardner told colleagues that “the borough is under threat” with HMOs popping up without consent being needed. Following the meeting, he explained: “It’s not about less or more HMOs, it’s about control. Let’s get control of how many HMOs there are, and where they are.”

Photo: Google Streetview

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