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.
In Leicestershire, 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.
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.
Our HMO property sourcing service in Leicestershire
We source houses suited to HMO use in Leicestershire, checking each one for Article 4, licensing, room sizes, layout and condition before we put it forward. You receive the checks in writing, with comparable room lets found for that property.
Sourcing in Leicestershire is carried out under written terms, with identity and anti-money-laundering checks before we act. We never hold or pool investors' money and we don't give financial advice, so take regulated advice before you commit to a purchase.
- Room sizes measured against national minimums
- Comparable room lets checked per property
- Houses checked for Article 4 and planning use first
- Written terms and identity checks before we act
- Layout, condition and guide works cost reviewed