Derby sits within Derby City Council, which sets its own HMO standards for room sizes, kitchens and bathrooms. Our designs start from those standards, so the layout we price is designed to meet the council's licensing requirements.
We can keep a photographic record of each stage, which is useful evidence when the council inspects or a buyer's surveyor asks questions later.
HMO rules in Derby City Council
| Rule | Derby City Council |
|---|---|
| Mandatory HMO licence (5+ people) | In force everywhere in England |
| Additional HMO licensing | None found |
| Selective licensing | None found |
| Article 4 direction for small HMOs | In part of the area Arboretum ward and parts of seven wards inside the ring road, since 3 May 2025 |
Checked October 2026 against Derby City Council's HMO licensing page. Schemes change, so we confirm the position for your address before any work starts.
Derby City Council's Article 4 direction covers Arboretum ward and parts of the wards inside the ring road. Whether a house in Derby 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 Derby City Council, so the mandatory licence for five or more people is the main one to plan for.
HMO compliance audits for Derby landlords
An audit of an HMO in Derby checks the house the way a licensing officer would: room sizes, fire safety, amenities, certificates and paperwork. You get a written, prioritised fix list, so you know what needs doing before an inspection, renewal or purchase.
Councils across Derbyshire set their own HMO standards on top of the national rules. Our audits of houses in Derby check against both, and we can quote for any work the report identifies once you have read it.
- Every bedroom measured, including the 1.5 m ceiling rule
- Certificates and tenancy paperwork checked for gaps and dates
- Fire precautions and fire risk assessment reviewed
- Licence conditions checked against the house as it is
- Written report with a prioritised, photographed fix list
Letting to students and sharers in Derby
If the house in Derby is let to students or sharers, up-to-date certificates, measured plans and a current fire risk assessment make any council inspection more straightforward, and they are usually asked for with a licence application.
HMO compliance audits near Derby
- Allestree 1.7 miles
- Littleover 1.7 miles
- Chaddesden 1.8 miles
- Mickleover 3 miles
- Alvaston 3.1 miles
- Belper 6.9 miles