Landlords in Fleetwood and Thornton‑Cleveleys now need permission to convert homes into HMOs after local councillors agreed there was an urgent need to bring in restrictions.

Wyre Council’s report explains that the areas with the most HMOs also have a higher crime rate, so much so that Fleetwood is receiving specialist input from Lancashire Police to tackle serious organised crime.

It has brought in an immediate Article 4 Direction to parts of Fleetwood and Thornton‑Cleveleys and says although this opens an avenue for compensation claims, such claims are likely to be minimal, based on similar cases at other local authorities, and adds: “The urgency to ensure the control takes precedence.”

In 10 months during 2025, the authority received nearly as many complaints about HMOs as it had during the previous four years combined.

Risk

It says: “Without council intervention, there is a risk that some of our most deprived wards in Wyre will see a continued intensification and will ultimately change the landscape of those areas causing harm by impacting character and amenity.”

Councillor Peter Le-Marinel, portfolio holder for planning policy and economic development, says: “While HMOs can play a positive role in our housing market providing low‑cost accommodation for those who need it, we must also recognise the wider impact on our communities.”

Place

Most Lancashire authorities have an Article 4 Direction in place including Blackpool, Lancaster and Preston. Wyre Council cites a risk that neighbouring authorities which have implemented an Article 4 Directive for HMOs could force HMOs to open in nearby boroughs.

The wards included in the proposed area are: Bourne, Cleveleys Park, Jubilee, Marsh Mill, Mount, Park, Pharos, Pheasants Wood, Rossall, Stanah, Victoria & Norcross, Warren.

The report adds: “The remaining towns and villages in Wyre are considered to be self-regulating due to higher house prices and rural locations dissuading their conversion to HMOs, by potential landlords. However, the Article 4 Direction will be subject to future monitoring and review and should issues disperse into those other areas and cause negative impact upon local amenity, then the boundaries will be re-considered.”

A consultation runs until 19th March.

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