Cambridge HMO & Article 4 planning
243 applications in the last 12 months · Analysis updated 19 Jul 2026 · Low confidence
Cambridge — 18 active Article 4 directions on record; moderate regulatory footprint, no HMO-specific designations captured.
University city, mixed Victorian and contemporary stock, tight planning controls, strong conservation-area presence.
18 active Article 4 directions in our records with no HMO-specific sub-count — verify HMO position directly with Cambridge planning authority.
Moderate A4 footprint and 243 applications/year suggest active planning environment; bridging/HMO viability hinges on conservation-area location and actual HMO Article 4 coverage (unconfirmed).
ASTOR UNDERWRITING UNIT // AI SYNTHESIS // VERIFY WITH COUNCIL BEFORE ACTING
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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.
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| Demolition | 1 | 0 | 0% | — | unknown |
Insufficient data for AI assessment.
|
| HMO / House in Multiple Occupation | 1 | 0 | 0% | — | unknown |
Insufficient data for AI assessment.
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| Telecommunications | 1 | 0 | 0% | — | unknown |
Insufficient data for AI assessment.
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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 ↗