18/05/2026
Article 4 isn’t new in Coventry. And it isn’t about one election.
If you own HMOs here, this is worth knowing. Some landlords think the council changing hands means new limits on HMO conversions could be coming. In Coventry, that ship sailed in September 2023 — Article 4 has been in force since then, in 11 wards, brought in under Labour.
And it’s not just a Coventry story. Durham, Darlington and others have brought in borough-wide Article 4 directions under councils of completely different political colours. Restricting HMO conversions is a cross-party trend — not a one-election event.
One trap worth flagging, whatever your politics: if a Coventry HMO in an Article 4 ward goes back to single-family use, bringing it back as an HMO needs a fresh planning application. The HMO use does not carry over.
Watch enforcement. Watch any move to extend Article 4.