Gateshead's Reform UK leadership has pledged a clampdown on houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) by imposing new planning restrictions across the borough. The party, which took control of Gateshead Council at May's local elections, says it will require property owners to secure planning permission before converting family homes into shared accommodation.
Current Planning Rules and Proposed Changes
Under current planning rules, a home can be converted into a small HMO for between three and six people without requiring planning permission. However, councils are able to enact measures that override those 'permitted development' rights. Reform has announced that it now wants to enact an Article 4 direction across all of Gateshead to limit the proliferation of HMOs. Such directions allow local councils to withdraw specific permitted development rights and mean that certain developments will therefore require a planning application.
Neighbouring Newcastle City Council has used an Article 4 measure to prevent more traditional family homes in the popular suburb of Jesmond being converted into student accommodation. Reform-run Durham County Council also announced a county-wide Article 4 direction on HMOs last year, while South Tyneside Council also did the same in 2025.
Council Leader's Statement
Gateshead Council leader Nick Allan told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “Our policy is to have an Article 4 Direction across the entire borough of Gateshead, this is to ensure all residents have an equal opportunity to see and participate in the planning consultation process and be a valued stakeholder in their community.”
Planning Committee and Fines
Gateshead Reform said in a social media post that “all future HMO applications will be processed via the planning committee” in order to allow residents to “participate in the planning process and consent to any HMOs being created in their area”. The party added: “Additionally we will aim to expand the crackdown of unregistered HMOs and push for the maximum statutory fines of £40,000 for those found to be operating illegally.”
Broader Context
Andy Burnham, who is widely expected to become Prime Minister following Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation, said after his Makerfield by-election victory that he wanted to see changes from the Home Office to address the housing of asylum seekers in HMOs. The former Greater Manchester mayor said last week that he had “heard on so many doorsteps people’s concerns about the unfairness of the immigration system, that cut-price approach to procurement, that means areas like this can end up like HMO Britain”. He added: “It’s not fair that they think that they can just operate like that and not hear the call of people here, the decent people here, who always will do the right thing, the compassionate thing, but not when it’s unfair in terms of the way places like this are treated.”
