Licensing and planning for HMOs in Leicestershire is handled by the district, borough, city or unitary councils, not one county-wide body. That's why the same house can need different paperwork depending on which side of a council boundary it sits.
Our work in Leicestershire ranges from single conversions for first-time landlords to multi-house programmes for investors, all priced in writing before work starts.
HMO rules across Leicestershire's councils
| Council | Additional licensing | Selective licensing | Article 4 (small HMOs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blaby District Council | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| Charnwood Borough Council | In force Whole borough, 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2028 | In part of the area Hastings and Lemyngton wards in Loughborough, 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2028 | In part of the area Loughborough, since 12 February 2012 |
| Harborough District Council | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | In part of the area Hinckley town centre and about 36 nearby streets, since 1 May 2026 |
| Leicester City Council | None found | In part of the area Parts of Braunstone Park and Rowley Fields, Fosse, Westcotes, Stoneygate and Saffron, 10 October 2022 to 9 October 2027 | 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 |
| Melton Borough Council | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| North West Leicestershire District Council | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| Oadby and Wigston Borough Council | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
Checked October 2026. Mandatory licensing for five or more people applies in every council. Schemes change, so we confirm the position for the address before work starts.
Councils in Leicestershire where we found an Article 4 direction for small HMOs in force, in all or part of their area: Charnwood Borough Council, Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, Leicester City Council. Additional licensing applies in all or part of: Charnwood Borough Council.
HMO planning and Article 4 in Leicestershire: what we do
Planning for an HMO in Leicestershire 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 Leicestershire, 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.
- Submission and liaison with the planning officer
- Check of lawful use, Article 4 and local HMO policies
- Lawful development certificate applications with dated evidence
- Existing and proposed floor plans and site plans
- Advice on Class L, C4 and sui generis routes