Property Licensing and Article 4 Directions
Case reference FOI2026/00965
Received 21 April 2026
Published 11 May 2026
Request
Please provide the following details relating to your local authority’s property licensing requirements, as currently in force and under consultation:
1. A list of all property licensing schemes operating, and under consultation, within your jurisdiction, including:
a) Selective licensing schemes
b) Additional licensing schemes (please specify which apply to properties falling under Section 254 and Section 257 of the Housing Act 2004)
c) Mandatory licensing schemes for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs)
2) For each scheme, please supply the following information:
a) The areas or wards covered
b) The start/end (or renewal) date for each scheme
c) Eligibility criteria for properties
d) Types of properties included under Section 254 and 257 for additional licensing, if relevant
e) Fee structure and any applicable discounts
f) The current number of properties licensed under each scheme
3) Article 4 HMO Direction and Short-Term Let Schemes or Restrictions in force and under consultation for:
a) Details of any planning directives Article 4 HMO Direction and Short-Term Let Schemes or Restrictions in force and under consultation, including:
i) The precise areas they cover - map and list of streets/properties
ii) The date implemented or proposed
iii) Types of properties affected
Response
Please provide the following details relating to your local authority’s property licensing requirements, as currently in force and under consultation:
1. A list of all property licensing schemes operating, and under consultation, within your jurisdiction, including:
a) Selective licensing schemes
Answer: N/A
b) Additional licensing schemes (please specify which apply to properties falling under Section 254 and Section 257 of the Housing Act 2004)
Answer: N/A
c) Mandatory licensing schemes for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs)
Answer: The Service Area have advised we have mandatory licensing schemes for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in Herefordshire only.
2) For each scheme, please supply the following information:
a) The areas or wards covered
Answer: Herefordshire is not separated into wards or areas. The whole of Herefordshire is covered.
b) The start/end (or renewal) date for each scheme
Answer: The Service Area have advised this is a 5-year mandatory licensing scheme. There is no set start and end date.
c) Eligibility criteria for properties
Answer: The Service Area have advised the eligibility criteria for properties is standard for HMOs. This information is publically available on our council website and can be viewed via the following link:
As such we consider this information to be exempt under Section 21 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 because it is reasonably accessible to you via other means. Please take this letter as a refusal notice under S17 of the Act.
d) Types of properties included under Section 254 and 257 for additional licensing, if relevant
Answer: N/A
e) Fee structure and any applicable discounts
Answer: This information is publically available on our council website and can be viewed via the following link:
As such we consider this information to be exempt under Section 21 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 because it is reasonably accessible to you via other means. Please take this letter as a refusal notice under S17 of the Act.
f) The current number of properties licensed under each scheme
Answer: This information is publically available on our council website and can be viewed via the following link:
https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/business/houses-in-multiple-occupation-hmos-public-register-and-map/
As such we consider this information to be exempt under Section 21 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 because it is reasonably accessible to you via other means. Please take this letter as a refusal notice under S17 of the Act.
3) Article 4 HMO Direction and Short-Term Let Schemes or Restrictions in force and under consultation for:
Answer: 0. The Service Area have confirmed there are no Article 4 Directions for HMOs or Short Term Lets.
a) Details of any planning directives Article 4 HMO Direction and Short-Term Let Schemes or Restrictions in force and under consultation, including:
i) The precise areas they cover - map and list of streets/properties
Answer: N/A
ii) The date implemented or proposed
Answer: N/A
iii) Types of properties affected
Answer: N/A
Documents
This is Herefordshire Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
You can browse our other responses or make a new FOI request.