Article 4 Direction for Caterham and Whyteleafe approved and made permanent

Article 4 Direction for Caterham and Whyteleafe approved and made permanent

At last night's Planning Policy Committee, councillors confirmed the Article 4 Direction that came into force in February 2026 and was due to expire in July. The Direction will now be made permanent and will continue to apply with immediate effect. It covers Caterham Valley, Caterham on the Hill and Whyteleafe.

The Direction means landlords must obtain planning permission before creating new Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in these areas. Landlords who wish to create a new HMO will need to submit a planning application to the Council and receive approval before proceeding. A six-week consultation showed significant public support for making the Direction permanent.

The Direction has been introduced to help manage the number and distribution of HMOs. In recent years, there has been an increase in HMOs locally. The Council has received a number of complaints through planning enforcement and licensing, alongside growing concerns from residents about the impact on their communities.

Leader of the Council, Councillor Catherine Sayer, said: "The consultation on whether to confirm the Article 4 Direction received overwhelming support from local residents.

It was originally brought in following numerous complaints and consideration of evidence showing a large increase in small HMOs in these areas. There was growing concern locally about the resulting impacts including poor housing quality, parking congestion, pressure on residential amenities, loss of family housing and increased noise and anti-social behaviour."