Leicester sits within Leicester City Council, which sets its own HMO standards for room sizes, kitchens and bathrooms. Our designs start from those standards, so the layout we price is designed to meet the council's licensing requirements.
We can keep a photographic record of each stage, which is useful evidence when the council inspects or a buyer's surveyor asks questions later.
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.
Void and turnaround refurbishment in Leicester: what we do
We turn round empty HMO rooms in Leicester between tenancies: inspection, repairs, redecoration, a deep clean and safety checks, finished with photos you can use to advertise the room. Each job is quoted per room or per job after we have seen it.
Because tenants can now give notice at any point in the year, voids in Leicester are harder to predict. We agree standard finishes and a set checklist with landlords across Leicestershire, so a room can be put right without waiting on decisions.
- Deep clean of the room and nearby shared areas
- Repairs, filling and redecoration to an agreed standard
- Fire door, closer and alarm checks
- Gas safety and electrical report dates reviewed
- Completion photos ready for advertising the room
Letting to students and sharers in Leicester
Leicester is close to a university or college campus, so students and young professionals are part of the local rental market. If that is your market, layouts with en-suites, a generous kitchen and secure bike storage are worth planning in from the start.