Knowsley Council’s Cabinet has approved new planning rules to prevent the inappropriate conversion of family homes into Houses in Multiple Occupation, or HMOs, across the borough.
The decision was made at a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, 14 October. It had the support of all parties on the council, including Labour, Green, Knowsley Community Independents, Reform UK and the Liberal Democrats.
The new rules will mean the council will be able to decide whether or not planning permission should be granted for the conversion of a residential property to an HMO.
This will give the Council greater control over where HMOs are located and help to ensure that only appropriate properties are used as HMOs. 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.
What is an HMO?
An HMO is a home shared by three or more people who are not from the same family. Each person rents a room and shares facilities such as a kitchen or bathroom.
HMOs are an important part of the housing market. They can provide low-cost accommodation and be a lifeline for local people facing homelessness. However, when too many are concentrated in one area, problems can arise. These include noise and disturbance, issues with bins and waste, poorly maintained gardens, and pest infestations.
Knowsley currently has around 150 HMOs. This number has grown since 2010. The council has also seen complaints about HMOs rise – from 4 in 2020 to 17 in 2025, with a further 17 already received in 2026.
What has the council decided?
Since 2010, landlords have been able to convert a family home into a small HMO – for up to six people – without needing planning permission. This is known as “permitted development.”
The new rules – called an Article 4 Direction – remove that automatic right across the whole of Knowsley. Once the formal legal process is complete, anyone wanting to convert a home into a small HMO will need to apply for planning permission first.
This is not a blanket ban on HMOs. There will always be local people who need affordable, flexible accommodation – those on lower incomes, or going through a change in their personal circumstances. Where an HMO complies with the Council’s planning policies, it will still be approved. The new rules simply mean the council will have a say.
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.
“By taking the steps we’ve taken today, backed by all members of the council from across all parties, we’re able to prevent future issues and ensure that Knowsley has the right mix of housing for the people who live here.”
What happens next?
The rules will come into immediate effect as soon as the legal notice has been published. The council will then carry out a 21-day public consultation, and the Direction will need to be confirmed by the Secretary of State.
A further report will come back to Cabinet once that process has concluded.