West Northamptonshire Council is the licensing and planning authority for Northampton. 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 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, so turning a family house in Northampton into a small HMO needs planning permission. We check the planning history of the address as part of any licence work. Seven or more occupants always needs planning permission. West Northamptonshire Council runs additional licensing in parts of Northampton and Daventry, so smaller HMOs there need a licence too. We check whether the address in Northampton is covered.
HMO planning and Article 4 for Northampton landlords
Planning for an HMO in Northampton 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 Northampton and the rest of Northamptonshire, 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.
- Lawful development certificate applications with dated evidence
- Planning statement covering concentration, amenity, parking and bins
- Check of lawful use, Article 4 and local HMO policies
- Advice on Class L, C4 and sui generis routes
- Submission and liaison with the planning officer
Sharer demand in Northampton
If the house in Northampton 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.
HMO planning and Article 4 near Northampton
- Wellingborough 8.8 miles
- Towcester 9.2 miles
- Daventry 11.7 miles
- Rushden 12.2 miles
- Kettering 12.2 miles
- Market Harborough 15.8 miles