Searches back, what does this mean?

[hopefully2021]

Wondering if anyone can help me make sense of the attached which has appeared under the planning charges section of our local authority search?
I'm completely confused!

Somewhere nearby there’s going to be an HMO. I suggest you find out more details

Thanks @HidingFromDD, is there anyway of finding out online where the HMO is exactly?

Your local council should have a register of HMOs

It's from 2012 so presumably it's been a HMO for a long time. You should be able to find the planning application approved on that date to work out where it is.
Unless it's the building you're buying?

There are currently new rules about HMOs. Councils seem to have randomly picked certain streets where all rental properties have to have an HMO licence - I've just spent £550 to get one for my tiny two bed flat in London, which could never be what people think of as an HMO.
Look up the class and parts of whichever section - that will tell you exactly what kind of HMO it is, but presumably it refers to your building?

My reading is that the local council have imposed an Article 4 direction which prevents the change of use of a building from a single dwelling to use as a house in multiple occupation. Usually you can change from a house to an HMO with up to 6 unrelated residents without needing planning permission. An article 4 direction means that planning permission would be required to make the change. Common in areas with an over concentration of HMOs, with associated loss of family housing.

It’s a good thing for the Aeticle 4 direction to be there.

The A4 directi9n would apply to a defined area, not just one building. My local council have done this to remove permitted development rights for office to residential conversions in some key areas, and to stop replacement windows in conservation areas for example. Like I said, as a buyer unless you were planning on turning the house into an HMO, this is good news.

Great thanks everyone that’s a relief! - I doubt this relates to the house I am buying as the house has been occupied by a family for 40 years so I don’t think it has ever been a HMO
I checked the councils website and found a planning request submitted from a neighbour in 2018 to turn their property into a HMO but this was refused for several reasons, also checked the landlord register and 2 houses on the road are rented out to a single household only

It will relate to the house that you are buying in that it restricts the normal right to change the use to an HMO for less than 6 people without PP.

The Article 4 Direction will have been applied over a certain geographical area. It will place the same restriction on all properties within that area. A planning application will need to be submitted for any proposal to convert a dwelling into an HMO within that area.

@Seeline thank you thats great news! now just to make sense of the rest of the search results...

The image pretty much means that your property is subject to an Article 4 Direction (made in May 2012), which removes permitted development rights to convert the home into an HMO. Planning permission is required for any C3 > C4 change of use.

So, a Planning Charge was registered on 14/05/2012. This charge relates to an Article 4 Direction that removes permitted development rights for a specific type of change of use.

Specifically:

It removes the automatic right to change a property from Class C3 (dwelling house) to Class C4 (House in Multiple Occupation – HMO) without planning permission.

Normally, under permitted development rules, you can convert C3 → C4 without needing planning permission.
This Article 4 Direction cancels that right in your area.

As a result, you will have to apply for full planning permission if you want to convert the property into an HMO.