A large HMO is a shared house for seven or more people. For a house in Leicester we start with a measured survey, check the council’s written HMO standards for the number of sharers, and then price each item separately. Leicester has a university population, so many shared houses are let to students on yearly tenancies, and summer is the main window for works.
- Area
- Leicestershire, England
- Postcodes
- LE1, LE19, LE21 and LE87
- Location
- 34 miles east of Birmingham
- Council
- Leicester City Council
- Pricing region
- East Midlands
What do large HMO conversions (7+ sharers) in Leicester involve?
- Second kitchen or extra kitchen capacity
- Protected stair and landing with fire doors and fire stopping
- Sound insulation between rooms and floors
- Feasibility review and measured survey
- Planning and building control drawings, coordinated with your designer
Which rules apply in Leicester?
Here is what usually applies to a Leicester job of this kind. It is general information rather than legal advice, and the council’s written HMO standards have the final detail.
- Mandatory HMO licence for 5 or more people in 2 or more households (since October 2018); councils can add additional licensing for smaller HMOs.
- Floor area under a ceiling lower than 1.5 m does not count towards the room size, and many councils set larger sizes.
- Council standards often step up at 5 and 6 sharers, for example a separate WC at 5 and a second bathroom from 6.
- 7 or more sharers is a sui generis large HMO and normally needs planning permission.
Leicester City Council: local HMO schemes
| Article 4 (HMO) | In force in part of the council area Directions in force from 20 Aug 2014 (Westcotes, Clarendon Park, Central) and a 2021 direction for West, East and South sub-areas in effect 28 Nov 2022; further extension 17 Feb 2023. |
|---|---|
| Additional licensing | No scheme found |
| Selective licensing | In force in part of the council area Parts of Braunstone Park & Rowley Fields, Fosse, Saffron, Spinney Hills, Stoneygate and Westcotes, 10 Oct 2022-9 Oct 2027 (supplementary designation for omitted streets from 29 Dec 2022). |
Schemes change. Check the council’s current pages for the exact address in Leicester before you buy or start work. Source: Leicester City Council HMO licensing page, checked 2026-10-31.
How much do large HMO conversions (7+ sharers) cost in Leicester?
| Item | UK typical | Local guide | Per |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conversion works per letting room (walls, linings, electrics, decoration; excludes kitchens, bathrooms and fire systems; our estimate) | £3,500 – £6,500 | £3,400 – £6,300 | letting room |
| Panel alarm system (Grade A type), larger HMO | £1,750 – £4,500 | £1,700 – £4,350 | house |
| Protected route upgrades: fire-resisting linings, fire stopping, lighting (three-storey house, our estimate) | £2,000 – £6,000 | £1,950 – £5,800 | house |
| Ensuite shower room added to a bedroom | £4,000 – £10,000 | £3,900 – £9,700 | ensuite |
| Communal HMO kitchen with extra cooking and sink capacity (our estimate from domestic ranges) | £8,000 – £18,000 | £7,750 – £17,450 | kitchen |
Prices in Leicester are shown with our regional adjustment for East Midlands (below the UK average). Your quote is itemised and fixed in writing once the scope and specification are agreed.
How long does it take?
Most jobs of this kind take 10–20 weeks. If a council deadline applies in Leicester, tell us at the first call so the programme is built around it.
If the house is let to students, we work backwards from the next tenancy start date in Leicester.
When do Leicester landlords need it?
Typical reasons for this work in Leicester:
- You have planning in place, or want to apply
- A large house, three or more storeys, or a building with lots of rooms
Questions about large HMO conversions (7+ sharers) in Leicester
What fire alarm does a large HMO need?
The fire risk assessment and the council decide; alarm grades come from guidance, not statute. For larger HMOs, council guides and the NI fire service guide commonly point to a Grade A panel system covering escape routes and rooms. We fit to the specification set, and give you the commissioning certificate.
Which postcodes in Leicester do you work in?
All of them, including LE1, LE19, LE21 and LE87, and the surrounding parts of Leicestershire.
Which council covers HMOs in Leicester?
Leicester is covered by Leicester City Council. We read the council’s written HMO standards before pricing, and you should check the licence position for the exact address.
How much do large HMO conversions (7+ sharers) cost in Leicester?
Our guide ranges for East Midlands are in the table on this page, and the guide-price tool gives a figure for your house. A fixed written quote follows a free site visit.
Large HMO conversions (7+ sharers) near Leicester
- Oadby · 3 mi
- Wigston Magna · 4 mi
- Loughborough · 9 mi
- Coalville · 12 mi
- Hinckley · 12 mi
- Melton Mowbray · 14 mi
- All of Leicestershire
Other HMO services in Leicester
- House to HMO conversion in Leicester
- Escape routes, emergency lighting and fire stopping in Leicester
- Fire alarm and detection systems in Leicester
- Sound insulation in Leicester
- Loft conversions for extra rooms in Leicester
- Extensions for extra rooms in Leicester
- Professional and co-living HMO refurbs in Leicester
- Commercial and above-shop to HMO in Leicester