Most of the cost and risk in an HMO is decided at the design stage. In Brackley we start by measuring every room and checking West Northamptonshire Council's position on licensing and planning, then build the specification around it.
Because we also manage and maintain HMOs, we design with day-to-day running in mind: hard-wearing finishes, sensible storage and layouts that keep shared spaces usable.
HMO rules in West Northamptonshire Council
| Rule | West Northamptonshire Council |
|---|---|
| Mandatory HMO licence (5+ people) | In force everywhere in England |
| Additional HMO licensing | In part of the area Parts of Northampton and Daventry, 24 February 2025 to 23 February 2030 |
| Selective licensing | None found |
| Article 4 direction for small HMOs | In part of the area The whole former Northampton borough, plus the Boughton Rise development |
Checked October 2026 against West Northamptonshire Council's HMO licensing page. Schemes change, so we confirm the position for your address before any work starts.
West Northamptonshire Council's Article 4 direction covers the whole former Northampton borough, not Brackley, so changing a family house here into a small HMO is usually permitted development. Seven or more occupants always needs planning permission. West Northamptonshire Council's additional licensing covers parts of Northampton and Daventry, which doesn't include Brackley, so the mandatory licence for five or more people is the main one to plan for there.
How we handle HMO licence application work in Brackley
Licensing rules for shared houses in Brackley depend on the exact address. Mandatory licensing applies to every HMO with 5 or more occupiers, but additional or selective schemes can bring smaller houses into licensing too. We check which applies before preparing anything, so the application matches the scheme.
For landlords in Brackley and across Northamptonshire, we prepare the floor plan, collect the certificates and complete the council's form. We follow the application through to a decision, help with any draft conditions and keep a note of the renewal date.
- Help with draft conditions, renewals and variations
- Licence holder, manager and fit and proper details prepared
- Council application form completed and checked
- Check of mandatory, additional and selective licensing at the address
- Gas, electrical, alarm and lighting certificates collated
HMO licence applications near Brackley
- Towcester 9.7 miles
- Daventry 15.5 miles
- Northampton 18.8 miles
- Rugby 23.8 miles
- Leamington Spa 24.6 miles
- Warwick 25.2 miles