
HMO Conversion Drawings in Totteridge N20
Fixed-fee, MCIAT-chartered hmo conversion drawings for Totteridge (N20) homeowners — London Borough of Barnet validation and local constraints handled from the start.
Totteridge (N20) runs along a green ridge of large detached houses, former farmhouses and villas on deep plots with paddocks and mature trees, and that semi-rural grain shapes the generous but carefully judged extensions we draw here.
Because the conservation area has carried Article 4 directions since 1970 that remove PD rights for extensions, roofs, porches and outbuildings, we check the boundary and any Green Belt overlap before advising whether a scheme needs a full application.


Planning in Totteridge (N20): what to know before you apply
Totteridge extensions almost always run as full householder applications to Barnet, since the long-standing Article 4 directions remove the permitted-development route across the conservation area. We prepare a heritage-and-landscape-aware set, checking tree constraints and any Green Belt overlap before submission.
Typical Totteridge housing stock
Large detached houses, former farmhouses and villas set along the ridge of Totteridge Lane and Totteridge Village, on deep plots with paddocks, mature trees and green verges giving the area its semi-rural character.
Streets we regularly draw for in Totteridge
Totteridge Lane · Totteridge Village · Grange Avenue · Barnet Lane
HMO Conversion Drawings for Totteridge (N20) homes: the package and the process
Every hmo conversion drawings we prepare for an Totteridge property is drawn to London Borough of Barnet’s validation standards and tuned to the N20 constraints above. Here is what the drawing package covers and how the process runs from first survey to approval.
A House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) is a property let to three or more unrelated occupants sharing kitchen, bathroom or living facilities. A small HMO — three to six sharers — normally falls into Use Class C4, while a large HMO of seven or more occupants is sui generis, sitting entirely outside the Use Classes Order. Both routes trigger licensing requirements, and in many London boroughs an Article 4 direction removes the usual permitted development right to convert a family home (C3) into a small HMO (C4), meaning full planning permission is needed even for a straightforward conversion.
DrawingsDirect draws HMO conversions to the standard your borough's planning and licensing teams both expect — minimum room sizes, amenity provision, fire safety and means of escape — so one set of drawings supports both the planning application, where needed, and the licensing submission. We check whether an Article 4 direction applies to your property before you commit to a route, and coordinate fire safety and structural detail in-house.
C4 small HMO or sui generis large HMO — which applies to your property?
The distinction matters because it decides which rules apply. A small HMO housing three to six unrelated sharers who share amenities is Class C4. A large HMO of seven or more occupants is sui generis and always needs planning permission, since sui generis uses sit outside the permitted development system entirely. The line also shifts with occupancy — a property let to six sharers today can tip into sui generis territory the moment a seventh tenancy is signed, which changes the planning position even though nothing about the building itself has changed. We assess your proposed occupancy and layout against both definitions before drawing, so the application matches how the property will actually be let.
Do I need planning permission for an HMO conversion in London?
Converting a family home (C3) into a small HMO (C4) is technically permitted development under national rules, but a large number of London boroughs have made an Article 4 direction that removes this right across all or part of the borough — meaning a full planning application is required even for a small, compliant HMO. Article 4 directions vary street by street in some boroughs, so two similar houses a few doors apart can sit on opposite sides of the line. Any large HMO (sui generis) needs planning permission everywhere, regardless of Article 4. We check your specific address against the relevant borough's Article 4 direction before recommending a route, since guessing wrong wastes both time and application fees.
| Factor | C4 small HMO (3–6 sharers) | Sui generis large HMO (7+) |
|---|---|---|
| Use class | C4 | Sui generis |
| Planning permission | Often needed due to Article 4 directions in most boroughs | Always needed |
| Licensing | Mandatory if 5+ occupants; additional licensing in many boroughs | Mandatory |
| Typical drawing package | From £1,400 | Full planning + building regs, from £2,200 |
HMO Conversion Drawings in Totteridge N20 — FAQs
How much do HMO conversion drawings cost in London?+
Is HMO conversion permitted development in London?+
Do I need a licence as well as planning permission?+
Do I need an architect for an HMO conversion?+
How long do HMO conversion drawings take?+
Do I need planning permission for a loft or extension in Barnet?+
What is different about building in Hampstead Garden Suburb?+
Is a hip-to-gable loft conversion allowed on my Barnet semi?+
How long does Barnet take to decide an application?+
How much do Barnet planning drawings cost?+
Get your free Totteridge planning assessment
Tell us your Totteridge (N20) address and ambition — we'll confirm feasibility, local constraints and a fixed fee within one working day.