Knowsley Council has approved new planning rules to restrict the spread of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), following similar recent changes in Liverpool and the Wirral. The decision was made at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, October 14.
An HMO is a home shared by three or more people who are not from the same family. Each person rents a bedroom and shares facilities such as a kitchen or bathroom. Some HMOs have en-suite bedrooms, with renters only sharing the living and kitchen areas. HMOs provide low-cost accommodation to those facing homelessness, those in low income or going through life changes, as well as young professionals who cannot afford to rent a full flat or house.
New planning controls
The new rules mean the council will be able to decide whether or not planning permission should be granted for the conversion of a residential property into an HMO. It would give the council greater control over where HMOs are located. The council said the aim “is to make sure HMOs do not become too concentrated in one place in a way that causes problems for residents and local businesses”.
Since 2010, landlords have been able to convert houses into small HMOs for up to six people, without needing planning permission. Under the new rules, an Article 4 Direction removes that automatic right across the borough. Once the formal legal process has been completed on this council decision, anyone wanting to convert a house into a small HMO will need to apply for planning permission first.
Concerns and complaints
Concerns were centred around noise disturbance, issues with bins and waste, poorly maintained gardens, and pest infestations. Knowsley currently has around 150 HMOs, growing since 2010. The council said it has seen complaints about HMOs rise from four in 2020, to 17 in 2025, and 17 received so far in 2026.
Cllr Tony Brennan, cabinet member for regeneration and economic development, said: “We recognise that these types of homes do have a part to play in our borough – they can be a lifeline for someone who needs low-cost accommodation or who would otherwise be at risk of homelessness, for example.
“But the problems arise when too many of these types of homes are in one area, as it can suddenly mean that one home has many more people coming and going, more cars parked outside, and more rubbish building up.
“We’ve seen some examples where properties and gardens haven’t been well maintained, and have become a blight on the local area, or attracted rodents.”
Implementation process
The new rules will come into immediate effect once the legal notice has been published. The council will then carry out a 21-day consultation, and the decision will then need to be confirmed by the Secretary of State. A further report will then be returned to the cabinet.
