The compliance page to read before you buy
Every one of these cities has a rule that decides whether your model works, and in most of them it is not the one operators check first. Each guide sets out what applies, what it costs, which statute or bylaw says so, and the local trap that catches people after exchange.
United Kingdom
London
33 licensing authorities, at least 22 with Article 4 directions, and fees from under £1,000 to over £1,500. What binds a London coliving operator, borough by borough.
- Licensing authorities
- 33
- Boroughs with Article 4
- 22+
- Typical mandatory fee
- £977–£1,570
United Kingdom
Manchester
Manchester's student belt is covered by Article 4, and Policy H11 lets the council refuse permission on HMO concentration within 100 metres. What that means before you buy.
- Article 4 wards
- Student belt
- Concentration test
- 100 metres
- Additional licensing
- Designated areas
United Kingdom
Birmingham
Birmingham removed permitted development across the whole city in 2020 and licenses every small HMO citywide since 2023. The simplest UK rulebook to read, and the strictest to work within.
- Article 4
- Citywide
- Additional licensing
- Citywide
- Scheme runs to
- 4 June 2028
United Kingdom
Bristol
Bristol added citywide additional licensing in August 2024 on top of a citywide Article 4 direction from 2021. Fees, thresholds and the diligence sequence before you buy.
- Article 4
- Citywide
- Additional licensing
- Citywide
- New mandatory licence
- £1,886
Canada
Toronto
Since March 2024 every Toronto multi-tenant house operator needs a licence. The four-room threshold, the bathroom standard, annual inspections and $100,000 fines.
- Licence required since
- 31 Mar 2024
- Threshold
- 4+ rooms
- Maximum fine
- $100,000
United States
New York
New York's Housing Maintenance Code limits a dwelling unit to three unrelated people maintaining a common household. What that means for coliving, and where the exceptions sit.
- Unrelated occupants
- Max 3
- Class A minimum stay
- 30 days
- Governing code
- § 27-2004
United States
Boston
Four lodgers not within second degree of kindred makes a lodging house in Boston. The licence, the fee bands from $75 to $300 plus, the zoning step that has to come first, and the registration regime it exempts you from.
- Lodging house threshold
- 4 persons
- Licence fee, 10–19 rooms
- $150/year
- Renewal deadline
- End of April
Canada
Ottawa
Ottawa licenses rooming houses under Schedule 26, and since 11 March 2026 every application must satisfy two zoning by-laws at the same time, the more restrictive winning. What that means before you buy.
- Licensing instrument
- Schedule 26
- Zoning by-laws in effect
- Two
- Schedule 26 report fee
- $69
Canada
Vancouver
Vancouver designates rooms under 320 square feet as single room accommodation, and converting one can carry a charge in the hundreds of thousands per room. What that does to a conversion play.
- SRA room threshold
- Under 320 sq ft
- Conversion charge
- Up to $300k/room
- Permit
- Required before works
Canada
Montreal
Montreal has put 101 rooming houses under a right of first refusal and banned their conversion in several boroughs. The City gets 60 days to step into your purchase. What that means before you offer.
- Rooming houses under pre-emption
- 101
- City's decision window
- 60 days
- Boroughs covered
- 9
Fees and scheme designations change, sometimes mid-tenancy. Every page carries the date we verified it and links to the authority's own record, which is the live version. Nothing on these pages is legal advice — take it on the specific address before committing capital.