17 services · Sussex & Surrey
Residential
Extensions, conversions and whole-home projects for homeowners, with site visits across West Sussex, East Sussex and Surrey.
Extensions
HMO Design Services
Licensable, Compliant Shared Homes Designed Around the Rules. Nationwide.
Why Landlords and Developers Trust Our HMO Design Services
An HMO has to satisfy planning, licensing and fire safety at the same time, and each is enforced by a different team. ArchEvolve is MCIAT-chartered and plans every room in a Revit model, so sizes, escape routes and shared spaces are checked before you build.
- 15 years of experience
- 350 planning approvals secured
- 500 projects completed
- Revit 3D modelling as standard
- MCIAT-chartered accreditation
Our services
HMO Design and Related Services
Larger shared schemes for students are covered by our student accommodation design service. If the property suits self-contained units instead, see our flat conversion services. Where an HMO needs planning permission, our planning application services handle the submission, and building regulations drawings cover the works.
20 services · Nationwide
Developers & Commercial
Planning and technical design for developers and commercial clients across England.
Developer services
Site & feasibility
15 services · Homeowners and developers
Planning & Drawings
From the first feasibility check to construction drawings, in the order a project needs them.
01Feasibility & survey
02Planning
03Technical & construction
HMO Design: Planning, Licensing and Fire Safety Together
Our HMO design services help landlords and developers convert houses and other buildings into houses in multiple occupation that the council will approve and license. In England, a small HMO for three to six unrelated people falls in use class C4, while larger HMOs are sui generis and always need planning permission. We confirm the planning position, plan bedrooms and shared facilities to licensing standards and design the fire precautions the property needs.
Common challenges
- Article 4 directions removing permitted development for small HMOs
- Bedrooms that fall below licensing minimum room sizes
- Kitchens and bathrooms too small for the number of occupants
- Fire escape routes running through kitchens and living rooms
- Council concerns about concentrations of HMOs in the street
- Noise between bedrooms and shared rooms causing tenant complaints
How ArchEvolve solves them
- Planning status checked against local Article 4 directions before design
- Every room measured in the model against national and local standards
- Shared facilities sized to the council's amenity standards for each occupancy
- Protected escape route, fire doors and detection designed into the layout
- Applications that address local HMO policy, parking and waste directly
- Rooms stacked and insulated to separate living and sleeping spaces
How an ArchEvolve Project Works
Every HMO project follows a clear process that brings planning, licensing and Building Regulations into one design.
Property and Policy
We check the property, its current use class, any Article 4 direction and the council's HMO policies and licensing standards before drawing anything.
Measured Model
The existing house is modelled in Revit, so room sizes, ceiling heights and loft or extension potential are known accurately from the start.
Occupancy Layout
We plan bedrooms, en suites, kitchens and living space to reach the occupancy you want while meeting room size and amenity standards.
Fire Precautions
Escape routes, fire separation, doors and alarm coverage are designed to the council's expectations for the size and layout of the HMO.
Planning or Certificate
We prepare a planning application, or a lawful development certificate where permitted development still applies, and deal with officer queries.
Building Regulations
Alterations, new en suites, extensions and fire works are developed into drawings and specifications for Building Control approval.
Licensing Plans
We provide clear floor plans with room sizes and the fire layout for your licence application, ready for the council's housing team.
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HMOs Designed for Landlords Across the UK
The 3D Difference for HMO Layouts and Room Sizes
In an HMO, a few centimetres decide whether a bedroom is licensable. ArchEvolve models the building in Revit, so room areas come from the model rather than hand measurements, and Enscape views help you check that shared spaces will actually work for tenants.
3D Visualisations Included
Every HMO layout is rendered in Enscape, so you can see bedrooms, kitchens and living areas furnished before deciding on the final occupancy.
Room Sizes Checked
Bedroom and shared space areas are calculated in the model and checked against licensing standards before drawings go to the council.
UK-Wide Remote Delivery
HMO projects are designed for landlords and developers across the UK over Microsoft Teams, with site visits arranged where they help.
End-to-End Service
Alex Page handles your HMO personally from the first planning check to licensing plans. No handoffs and no junior staff on your project.
HMO Design for Properties Across the UK
ArchEvolve designs HMOs for landlords and property developers anywhere in the UK, working remotely over Microsoft Teams with optional site visits.
What do your HMO design services include?
The service covers a planning and licensing check, a measured Revit model of the property, occupancy layouts, fire precautions, the planning application or lawful development certificate, Building Regulations drawings and licensing floor plans. You can appoint us for the full process or for the stages you need.
Do I need planning permission for an HMO?
In England, changing a house to a small HMO for three to six people is normally permitted development, unless the council has an Article 4 direction removing that right. HMOs for more than six people are sui generis and always need planning permission. We confirm which applies before you buy or design.
What is the minimum bedroom size in an HMO?
For licensed HMOs in England, national minimums apply: 6.51 square metres for one adult and 10.22 square metres for two, with floor area under 1.5 metres in ceiling height not counted. Many councils set higher local standards, so we check both.
Does my HMO need a licence?
In England, mandatory licensing applies to HMOs occupied by five or more people forming more than one household. Councils can also run additional or selective licensing schemes that cover smaller properties, so we check the local scheme as part of the design.
What fire safety measures does an HMO need?
Usually a protected escape route, fire doors to bedrooms and kitchens, and an interlinked alarm system, with the level depending on size and layout. Councils commonly assess HMOs against national fire safety guidance for housing, and we design to their expectations from the first layout.
Can I add rooms with a loft conversion or extension?
Often, yes. Extra bedrooms in the roof or a rear extension are common ways to raise occupancy, though they may change the planning position. Our loft conversion service can be combined with the HMO layout and fire design.
Should I convert to an HMO or to flats?
It depends on local policy, demand and your exit plan. HMOs usually earn more rent per building but need more management, while self-contained flats can be sold individually. We can test both on the same building, and our flat conversion services cover the second route.
Do HMO works need Building Regulations approval?
Most do. New en suites, structural alterations, extensions, loft rooms and fire separation works all fall under the Building Regulations. We prepare the drawings and specification for Building Control alongside the licensing plans, so both sets of requirements match.
Frequently Asked Questions
Start Your HMO Design Today
Free initial consultation for landlords and developers UK-wide. Send us the address and your target room count to get started.
