In Warwickshire, as everywhere in England, a house with five or more people forming two or more households needs a mandatory HMO licence. Some councils go further with additional licensing or Article 4 directions, as the table shows.
Licensing and planning for HMOs in Warwickshire 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.
HMO rules across Warwickshire's councils
| Council | Additional licensing | Selective licensing | Article 4 (small HMOs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Warwickshire Borough Council | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| Rugby Borough Council | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | In part of the area Five central wards: Benn, Coton and Boughton, Eastlands, New Bilton, and Newbold and Brownsover, since 23 February 2025 |
| Stratford-on-Avon District Council | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| Warwick District Council | In force Whole district, from 18 January 2024 for five years | Not confirmed | In part of the area The whole of Leamington Spa, since 1 April 2012 |
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 Warwickshire where we found an Article 4 direction for small HMOs in force, in all or part of their area: Rugby Borough Council, Warwick District Council. Additional licensing applies in all or part of: Warwick District Council.
How we handle HMO safety certificate work in Warwickshire
Landlords in Warwickshire need the same core certificates as anywhere in England: an annual gas safety record, an EICR at least every 5 years and working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Licence conditions often add fire alarm and emergency lighting servicing to the list.
We arrange checks for HMOs in Warwickshire, book them before they fall due and keep every date in a compliance diary. Where a report needs remedial work, we quote for it straight away so deadlines are met.
- EICRs by qualified electricians, at least every 5 years
- Annual gas safety checks by Gas Safe registered engineers
- Remedial electrical work quoted to meet the 28-day deadline
- Compliance diary with every due date in one place
- Smoke and carbon monoxide alarm checks and replacements