A shared house in Leicester has to work for the council, the people who live there and the owner's figures. We look at all three before we agree terms.
We'll tell you plainly if a house in Leicester isn't suited to the arrangement you have in mind, and what it would take to make it work.
HMO rules in Leicester City Council
| Rule | Leicester City Council |
|---|---|
| Mandatory HMO licence (5+ people) | In force everywhere in England |
| Additional HMO licensing | None found |
| Selective licensing | In part of the area Parts of Braunstone Park and Rowley Fields, Fosse, Westcotes, Stoneygate and Saffron, 10 October 2022 to 9 October 2027 |
| Article 4 direction for small HMOs | In part of the area Several areas of the city, including Westcotes, Clarendon Park and the centre, first in force 20 August 2014 and since extended |
Checked October 2026. Schemes change, so we confirm the position for your address before any work starts.
Leicester City Council's Article 4 direction covers several areas of the city, including Westcotes, Clarendon Park and the city centre. Whether a house in Leicester needs planning permission to become a small HMO depends on whether it is inside that boundary, which we check for the exact address. Seven or more occupants always needs planning permission. We found no additional licensing scheme in force in Leicester City Council, so the mandatory licence for five or more people is the main one to plan for.
HMO feasibility appraisals for Leicester landlords
Our HMO appraisals in Leicester start with the address: we check the local council's licensing schemes, any Article 4 direction and its amenity standards for kitchens and bathrooms, then measure each room against the national minimum sizes to find the likely room count.
For houses in Leicester and elsewhere in Leicestershire, the appraisal also covers the planning route, building regulations and fire implications, a guide build cost range and the main risks. It is property information, not a valuation or financial advice.
- Planning route: C4, sui generis or Article 4
- Licensing position for the address
- Building regulations and fire safety implications
- Council amenity standards applied to kitchens and bathrooms
- Every room measured against national minimum sizes
Letting to students and sharers in Leicester
Student demand is only one factor in Leicester. We check Leicester City Council's Article 4 and licensing position for the address before any appraisal figures are relied on.