BCP Council (Bournemouth): Dan Wilden is pleased to have secured a certificate of lawfulness to confirm that the use of a house in Bournemouth as a Use Class C4 House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) is lawful.
A Use Class C4 HMO is one with between 3 and 6 occupants. By default it is permitted development to go between a regular house (Use Class C3) and C4 HMO unless those permitted development rights have been removed through an Article 4 Direction. There is an Article 4 Direction covering the whole of the former Bournemouth Borough removing Use Class C3 to C4 changes of use (but not back the other way).
Our client had used the house in question as a 4 person student HMO since purchasing it in 2008. It was never in breach of planning because the change of use was undertaken prior to the Article 4 Direction. Our client was able to provide good evidence to demonstrate this and so the certificate was issued by the Council without too much difficulty.
Certificate of lawfulness applications need to be handled carefully. If you are considering such an application it is recommended that professional advice is taken beforehand. Why not speak to Pure Town Planning to find out how we can asssist?