Leicester City Council is the licensing and planning authority for Leicester. We check its rules for the exact street before we draw a single partition.
Work is carried out by S&K and vetted subcontractors working under S&K's supervision, so you contract with one company for the whole project.
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.
Our HMO planning permission service in Leicester
Planning for an HMO in Leicester 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 Leicester and the rest of 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.
- Check of lawful use, Article 4 and local HMO policies
- Planning statement covering concentration, amenity, parking and bins
- Advice on Class L, C4 and sui generis routes
- Existing and proposed floor plans and site plans
- Submission and liaison with the planning officer
Sharer demand in Leicester
If the house in Leicester is let to students or sharers, up-to-date certificates, measured plans and a current fire risk assessment make any council inspection more straightforward, and they are usually asked for with a licence application.