Article 4 HMO check — Leicester
Leicester City Council has published 371 Article 4 Direction areas to planning.data.gov.uk, 2 of which remove the C3 → C4 small-HMO right and 369 cover other permitted development rights. Enter a postcode to see which, if any, contain it.
Free teaser, no sign-up · Try NE2 2AL (Newcastle HMO Article 4) or SW1A 1AA (Westminster, non-HMO direction)
What is prohibited without planning permission in Leicester
Why this tier: 2 HMO directions (C3→C4 right removed) · 11 householder rights also removed (extensions, roofs, exterior).
- 3LChange of use: dwellinghouse (C3) to small HMO (C4) — up to 6 unrelated occupiers · 2 areas
- 2CExterior painting · 350 areas
- 11BDemolition of buildings · 334 areas
- 1AEnlargement, improvement or alteration of a dwellinghouse (extensions) · 77 areas
- 1COther alterations to the roof (rooflights) · 77 areas
- 1DPorches · 77 areas
- 1HMicrowave antenna (satellite dishes) · 72 areas
- 1GChimneys, flues or soil and vent pipes · 69 areas
- 1BAdditions or alterations to the roof (roof extensions, dormers) · 68 areas
- 2AGates, fences, walls or other means of enclosure · 11 areas
- 1FHard surfaces within the curtilage (driveways) · 8 areas
- 7AExtension or alteration of a shop or financial building · 7 areas
- 1EBuildings incidental to the enjoyment of the dwellinghouse (outbuildings, sheds) · 5 areas
- SEE NOTESSchedule 2 Part ? Class SEE NOTES · 5 areas
- 31BSchedule 2 Part 31 Class B · 4 areas
- 7HExtension or alteration of an industrial building or warehouse · 4 areas
- 31ASchedule 2 Part 31 Class A · 3 areas
- 8ASchedule 2 Part 8 Class A · 3 areas
- 2BMeans of access to a highway · 2 areas
- 7MExtension or alteration of a school, college, university or hospital · 2 areas
- 7JSchedule 2 Part 7 Class J · 1 area
Codes are GPDO 2015 Schedule 2 Part/Class as published by the council. "Removed" means a planning application is required for that work inside the area.
HMO Article 4 Directions published by Leicester City Council
- Houses in Multiple Occupation - 2013In force 2013-08-08
- Leicester City Council HMO Article 4 Direction 2021In force 2021-11-16
Plus 369 non-HMO Article 4 areas (conservation-area householder rights, commercial changes of use, etc.). A postcode check lists every one that contains the point.
FAQ
If the property sits inside one of Leicester City Council's 2 HMO Article 4 Direction areas, yes: the permitted development right to change a house (C3) into a small HMO (C4, 3–6 occupiers) is withdrawn and a full planning application is required. Outside those areas a small HMO is normally permitted development. A large HMO (7+ occupiers) always needs permission. Check the exact postcode above.
Across the 371 published areas: Change of use: dwellinghouse (C3) to small HMO (C4) — up to 6 unrelated occupiers (2 areas); Exterior painting (350 areas); Demolition of buildings (334 areas); Enlargement, improvement or alteration of a dwellinghouse (extensions) (77 areas); Other alterations to the roof (rooflights) (77 areas); Porches (77 areas); Microwave antenna (satellite dishes) (72 areas); Chimneys, flues or soil and vent pipes (69 areas); Additions or alterations to the roof (roof extensions, dormers) (68 areas); Gates, fences, walls or other means of enclosure (11 areas); Hard surfaces within the curtilage (driveways) (8 areas); Extension or alteration of a shop or financial building (7 areas); Buildings incidental to the enjoyment of the dwellinghouse (outbuildings, sheds) (5 areas); Schedule 2 Part ? Class SEE NOTES (5 areas); Schedule 2 Part 31 Class B (4 areas); Extension or alteration of an industrial building or warehouse (4 areas); Schedule 2 Part 31 Class A (3 areas); Schedule 2 Part 8 Class A (3 areas); Means of access to a highway (2 areas); Extension or alteration of a school, college, university or hospital (2 areas); Schedule 2 Part 7 Class J (1 area).
371 Article 4 areas are currently published on planning.data.gov.uk, of which 2 are HMO-related (C3→C4); the most recent HMO direction came into force 2021-11-16. Councils can add or amend directions at any time.
It is a breach of planning control. The council can serve an enforcement notice requiring the HMO use to stop; ignoring it is a criminal offence with an unlimited fine. Lenders and insurers may also treat it as a breach of their terms.
No. Article4Check UK is an independent private service that reads the open data Leicester City Council publishes to planning.data.gov.uk. Always confirm with the council's planning department before committing money.
Council website: https://www.leicester.gov.uk · All councils, ranked