Most of the cost and risk in an HMO is decided at the design stage. In Rugby we start by measuring every room and checking Rugby Borough Council's position on licensing and planning, then build the specification around it.
You get one point of contact for the whole job, a fixed price for the agreed specification and a written programme showing when each stage happens.
HMO rules in Rugby Borough Council
| Rule | Rugby Borough Council |
|---|---|
| Mandatory HMO licence (5+ people) | In force everywhere in England |
| Additional HMO licensing | Not confirmed |
| Selective licensing | Not confirmed |
| Article 4 direction for small HMOs | In part of the area Five central wards: Benn, Coton and Boughton, Eastlands, New Bilton, and Newbold and Brownsover, since 23 February 2025 |
Checked October 2026 against Rugby Borough Council's HMO licensing page. Schemes change, so we confirm the position for your address before any work starts.
Rugby Borough Council's Article 4 direction covers five central wards of Rugby. Whether a house in Rugby 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 couldn't confirm whether Rugby Borough Council runs additional licensing, so we check with the council for the address.
How we handle HMO fire safety work in Rugby
We carry out HMO fire safety works in Rugby to a written specification taken from the fire risk assessment and the local council's HMO standards. That keeps the work proportionate, because a small two-storey house and a large three-storey one in Rugby rarely need the same measures.
Typical jobs in Rugby include fire doors with self-closers, interlinked alarms, emergency lighting and fire stopping of hidden gaps. Every job across Warwickshire ends with commissioning certificates, photos of concealed work and a logbook for routine tests.
- Fire stopping around pipes, cables, hatches and cupboards
- Fire doors fitted with self-closers, seals and correct gaps
- Specification taken from the fire risk assessment and council standards
- Commissioning certificates, logbook and photos of concealed work
- Emergency lighting where the escape route needs it