Cambridge HMO & Article 4 planning
266 applications in the last 12 months · Analysis updated 19 Jul 2026 · Low confidence
Cambridge — 18 active Article 4 directions in our records; moderate planning footprint, HMO exposure unclear.
University town, mixed tenure stock dominated by Victorian and Edwardian terraces; moderate density with substantial student lettings.
18 active Article 4 directions in our records, none HMO-specific in our metadata — verify HMO-related protection status with Cambridge City Council.
A4 footprint suggests planning constraints; thin HMO visibility in our data means council verification essential before committing bridging or HMO capex.
ASTOR UNDERWRITING UNIT // AI SYNTHESIS // VERIFY WITH COUNCIL BEFORE ACTING
See the full picture for Cambridge
Sign up free to unlock the last 266 applications with risk scoring, recent HMLR sold prices, top case officers, and weekly digest emails for any borough you're tracking.
–
Investment Grade
A: select with confidence · B: selectable with discipline · C: case-by-case · D: avoid unless exceptional
Insufficient data for cambridge (37 apps, 0 decided).
| Type | Count | Decided | Approval | Avg weeks | Risk | Investor notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other | 25 | 0 | 0% | — | unknown |
Insufficient data for AI assessment.
|
| Residential Extension / Householder | 4 | 0 | 0% | — | unknown |
Insufficient data for AI assessment.
|
| Listed Building / Heritage | 3 | 0 | 0% | — | unknown |
Insufficient data for AI assessment.
|
| Commercial / Retail / Food & Beverage | 2 | 0 | 0% | — | unknown |
Insufficient data for AI assessment.
|
| Demolition | 1 | 0 | 0% | — | unknown |
Insufficient data for AI assessment.
|
| HMO / House in Multiple Occupation | 1 | 0 | 0% | — | unknown |
Insufficient data for AI assessment.
|
| Telecommunications | 1 | 0 | 0% | — | unknown |
Insufficient data for AI assessment.
|
HMO Requirements in Cambridge
What it takes to run a House in Multiple Occupation in Cambridge — whether you need planning permission, the licence the property must hold, and the statutory minimum room sizes. Verify current details with the council before committing.
Full guides: HMO licensing in Cambridge ↗ · Article 4 directions ↗
No HMO Article 4 direction in our records for this borough. Where no direction applies, converting a home to a small HMO (C4, up to six occupants) is usually permitted development — but coverage can be incomplete, so verify with the council before relying on this.
See the full Article 4 picture below ↓Any HMO occupied by five or more people making up two or more separate households (sharing a kitchen, bathroom or toilet) must hold a mandatory HMO licence. This applies in every council in England, regardless of the number of storeys.
| One person aged over 10 | 6.51 m² |
| Two people aged over 10 | 10.22 m² |
| One person aged under 10 | 4.64 m² |
| Any sleeping room | ≥ 4.64 m² |
Licensed HMOs must provide adequate, well-located cooking, washing and toilet facilities for the number of occupants, plus safe gas/electrics, working fire detection and proper waste storage. The exact ratios (occupants per bathroom, per WC, kitchen size) are set by each council in its own HMO amenity standards — confirm the figures with the borough before committing to a scheme.
Minimum room sizes and the mandatory-licensing threshold are national law (Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (Mandatory Conditions of Licences) (England) Regulations 2018), sourced under the Open Government Licence v3 — they apply in every council. Licensing designations shown are those in our records; verify the current position and exact amenity standards with Cambridge Council before relying on this. gov.uk: HMO licences ↗