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.
Because we also build and repair HMOs, problems found at an inspection can be priced and fixed by the same team.
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 management in Leicester: what we do
Our HMO management in Leicester covers the whole cycle of a shared house: letting rooms, collecting rent, arranging repairs and keeping the licence conditions and certificates in date. We check the local council's licensing scheme for the address before taking a house on, because conditions vary across Leicestershire.
For owners in Leicester, we can also help with registration on the PRS Database, which is due to open region by region from 15 December 2026, starting in the West Midlands, subject to Parliament approving the regulations. Repairs are handled by our own maintenance team.
- Repairs by our own maintenance team
- Compliance diary for licence conditions, gas, EICR and alarms
- Rent collection, arrears follow-up and monthly statements
- Management Regulations 2006 duties carried out day to day
- Regular inspections of rooms and common parts
Sharer demand in Leicester
Student lets in Leicester often follow the academic year. Since 1 May 2026, Ground 4A can let a landlord of a student HMO seek possession for the summer, but only if every condition is met, including: each tenant is, or is reasonably expected to become, a full-time student; written notice was given before signing; the tenancy was signed no more than six months before move-in; the timing condition is met; and the landlord intends to re-let to students.