HMOs in Leicester are licensed and regulated by Leicester City Council. Before we manage, lease or appraise a house, we check whether the address falls within an additional licensing scheme or an Article 4 direction, because both change what the house needs.
We cover LE1, LE2, LE3, LE4 and nearby and the neighbouring postcodes, with the same approach in Leicester as anywhere else in Leicestershire.
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 property sourcing service in Leicester
We source houses suited to HMO use in Leicester and across 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 Leicester 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.
- Licensing position checked for each address
- Layout, condition and guide works cost reviewed
- Houses checked for Article 4 and planning use first
- Room sizes measured against national minimums
- Comparable room lets checked per property
Letting to students and sharers in Leicester
Student demand is only one factor in Leicester. We check Leicester City Council's Article 4 and licensing position for the address before any appraisal figures are relied on.