New rules for shared housing in Hinckley are set to begin on 1 May 2026, following a unanimous vote by the Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council executive committee on April 22 2026.
The council has introduced an Article 4 Direction, which removes the automatic right for property owners to convert family homes into small houses in multiple occupation, often referred to as shared houses, without first obtaining planning permission. This change affects 37 streets in the town centre, including Queen’s Road, Factory Road, Upper Bond Street, Hollier’s Walk, London Road, and Clarence Road.
Existing shared houses that are already operating lawfully will not be affected by this new requirement. For future conversions, the council will now review each planning application individually, allowing officials to assess how a new shared house might impact local parking, waste management, noise levels, and other community services.
The decision follows a public consultation held between 19 February and 27 March 2026, which gathered 656 responses. Results showed that approximately 65% of people supported the new measures. However, the feedback revealed a divide in opinion: while 84% of residents living outside the affected areas were in favour of the change, 51% of those living within the specific zones where the rules apply opposed them.
Council leader Cllr Stuart Bray stated that the move was necessary to address community concerns regarding local infrastructure and living conditions. Cllr Bray also highlighted ongoing concerns regarding the use of local properties for asylum seeker accommodation by the government contractor Serco. He confirmed that the council has written to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to express these concerns, stating that the current situation is creating fear and that tensions are rising within the community.
While the new planning rules are now confirmed, the Home Secretary retains the power to overrule, modify, or cancel the council’s decision if it is deemed to conflict with national policy. Looking ahead, the council has indicated it may expand these planning requirements to other areas of the borough if concentrations of shared housing increase elsewhere, with future decisions delegated to the council leader and the director of place.
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