Political control does not neatly predict whether a council has an Article 4 Direction or refuses more HMO applications, according to new research.

PlanningLens’ analysis of HMO planning decisions across 14 councils during 2024/25 shows that Labour-controlled Mansfield and Plymouth were among the most permissive authorities, with Mansfield rejecting none of its 36 applications and Plymouth rejecting just 3%. By contrast, Barking & Dagenham was Labour-controlled during the research period and had one of the highest refusal rates, rejecting 94% of HMO applications. Meanwhile, other Labour councils such as Brent only approved 43% while York approved 77%.

Reform UK MPs have taken an anti-HMO stance and some of their newly controlled local councils such as St Helens have vowed to “tighten the screws” on HMOs after voting to bring in a borough-wide Article 4 Direction, while Newcastle-under-Lyme is also considering the move.

Consultation

Havering Council is the latest authority to launch a consultation whereby its current scheme would be extended borough-wide, as the Reform UK-run council says it wants greater ability to consider HMO applications through the planning process. However, it already had a 93% refusal rate in 2024/25 when the council was run by a residents’ association-led minority administration.

The current wide difference in figures suggests that the attitude of individual councils towards HMOs may be more relevant to landlords than its political stance. Most decisions are officer-delegated, with councillors influencing the broader planning policy rather than individual applications.

Elections

“Everyone wants this to be a Reform story, but the dates and the data don't cooperate,” says Mark Broome, founder of PlanningLens. “Every 2025 direction in our register was made before the May 2026 elections, and Havering was refusing 93% of HMO applications before Reform took the council. Labour councils sit at both extremes: Barking & Dagenham refuses 94%, Plymouth refuses 3%. Party control predicts virtually nothing on its own.”

The HMO Action Group has launched a national campaign to push back against the proliferation of Article 4 Directions and says it’s the wrong tool for the job. It believes the planning rule chokes off supply, pushes up rents, and leaves students, key workers and young professionals with fewer places to live.

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