Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council is taking action to stop family homes being converted into shared housing without proper local oversight. Under the new proposals, landlords wanting to turn a home into a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) for up to six people would need planning permission first.
Councillors will be asked to back the new controls at Full Council on Wednesday, 25 November 2026.
Why the Council is acting
The move is designed to give the Council and local residents more control where concentrations of shared housing are putting pressure on parking, waste, neighbourhood amenity and the character of residential streets.
Evidence considered by the Council has highlighted concerns about concentrations of shared housing and the knock-on impact this can have on residential neighbourhoods, including parking pressures, extra bins and waste, noise, anti-social behaviour and the loss of family homes.
At present, a property can become an HMO for up to six people without needing planning permission. One conversion might not cause a problem, but when several become concentrated in the same streets the impact can quickly add up.
What the new rules mean
Under the proposed changes, anyone wanting to convert a normal residential property into an HMO for up to six people would have to submit a planning application. That would give the Council the opportunity to consider the impact on the street and surrounding neighbourhood before a conversion takes place, and give local residents the opportunity to have their say.
The legal mechanism for doing this is known as an Article 4 Direction. The principle is straightforward: turning a family home into a shared house would require permission from the Council first.
What comes next
If approved by Full Council, the new controls would take effect immediately for future conversions in the designated area. They would not apply retrospectively to properties already lawfully operating as HMOs.
A six-week public consultation would then take place, allowing residents, landlords and other interested parties to comment before councillors are asked to confirm the measures within six months.
Council quotes
Councillor Vanessa Renshaw, Cabinet Member for Housing and Public Protection, said: "Residents should have a say when significant numbers of family homes in their neighbourhood are being turned into shared accommodation. We want to put residents back in the driving seat. These proposals would allow us to look properly at every new conversion and decide whether it is right for that particular street and community."
Jonathan Gullis, Leader of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council and Cabinet member for Planning and Town Centres, said: "When we took control of the Council, we promised residents that we would act on the uncontrolled spread of HMOs and give local communities a greater say over what happens in their streets. We absolutely recognise the need for different types of housing. We have Keele University, the hospital and major employers on our doorstep, but there has to be a balance."