Open the council source
Use the Leeds City Council HMO Article 4 page and its linked direction plan. The published map identifies the boundary for changes from C3 dwellinghouse to C4 HMO use. Keep the official page as the starting point so you can see the direction and related information together.
Have the complete address and a location plan ready. Confirm which building you are checking, particularly where a street contains subdivided properties, corner plots or rear buildings. If the proposal covers more than one existing property, identify the full site rather than placing a single map pin at its approximate centre.
Check at building level
Locate the street, house and site boundary, then compare them with the direction line. A postcode marker may cover several properties and should not be treated as a building-level conclusion. A neighbourhood name is even less precise. If the official material cannot be read clearly enough to decide, record that limitation.
For a boundary query, send the council a marked location plan and a short description of the intended change. State exactly which issue is unclear: for example, whether the direction line includes a particular corner property. This focused request is easier to resolve than asking whether an entire neighbourhood “allows HMOs”.
Save a useful audit record
Our recommended record contains the property address, source link, date checked, map view used and the conclusion reached. Add the name of the person who carried out the review. If confirmation was obtained from the council, save the response with the marked plan that prompted it.
Keep this record with the planning history rather than only in a sales or marketing folder. The objective is that a future adviser can understand what was checked and reproduce the reasoning. If the project changes to include another building or a different site boundary, repeat the location review for the revised proposal.
Separate the map result from the permission decision
A boundary result is one input to the planning review. Inside the area, assess the effect of the direction on the proposed use. Outside it, still examine the lawful existing use, any conditions and whether the proposal falls within the relevant permitted development class. The map does not grant permission or certify an existing use.
Likewise, an existing HMO advertisement or licence marker is not proof that a new conversion next door would be acceptable. Treat neighbouring properties as potential evidence to investigate, not as an automatic entitlement. The building and its own planning record remain central to the assessment.
Do not mix the different local maps
Leeds publishes separate spatial information for planning and housing functions. The 2026 selective licensing designation is a housing-licensing area, not the HMO Article 4 boundary. A property may need more than one check, and the outcome of one should not be copied across to another.
Create separate checklist entries for the HMO direction, selective licensing and any other constraints relevant to the project. Give each entry its own source and result. This keeps the review transparent when the same property is being considered by a designer, a letting agent and a conveyancer.
Move from location check to a project decision
After checking the map, define the proposed occupation and retrieve the property’s decision documents. Then decide what further evidence or applications are needed. If you are still negotiating a purchase, communicate unresolved questions before treating the intended HMO use as an established fact.
For a focused review, send the complete address, marked site plan, proposed residents, existing floor plans and any map response already received. Include the date by which you need advice. This helps prioritise the issues that could materially affect the project rather than spending time repeating a broad neighbourhood search.
Your questions, answered
Can I use a postcode to make the final decision?
A postcode helps locate the area, but check the actual building against the official boundary and seek clarification where the line is uncertain.
Does this page contain an official interactive map?
No. It directs you to Leeds City Council’s official map and explains a reliable checking method. It does not replace the council boundary material.
Should I recheck a property when the scheme changes?
Yes, if the site or proposal changes, revisit the relevant checks and keep the record current.
Sources & further reading
Primary guidance and evidence checked 21 October 2026. Recheck live sources before acting.
Make this specific to your property. General guidance cannot establish a site’s lawful use, boundaries or the outcome of an application. Bring your address, plans and any council correspondence to the next conversation.
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