Most of the cost and risk in an HMO is decided at the design stage. In Alvaston we start by measuring every room and checking Derby City 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 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 Alvaston 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 planning and Article 4 in Alvaston: what we do
Planning for an HMO in Alvaston starts with three questions: what the current lawful use is, whether an Article 4 direction covers the street, and what local policy says about the concentration of shared houses. We answer all three before you spend money on design.
For landlords and investors in Alvaston and the rest of Derbyshire, we prepare planning applications and lawful development certificates, with the plans and evidence councils commonly ask for. We also explain where licensing and building regulations need a separate approval.
- Advice on Class L, C4 and sui generis routes
- Existing and proposed floor plans and site plans
- Submission and liaison with the planning officer
- Check of lawful use, Article 4 and local HMO policies
- Lawful development certificate applications with dated evidence
HMO planning and Article 4 near Alvaston
- Chaddesden 2.7 miles
- Derby 3.1 miles
- Littleover 3.6 miles
- Allestree 4.8 miles
- Mickleover 5.1 miles
- Long Eaton 6.3 miles