HMO projects in Smethwick are shaped by the rules of Sandwell Council. Before we price anything, we check whether the address falls within an additional licensing scheme or an Article 4 direction, because both change what the house needs and how long it takes.
Our team is based in Great Barr, Birmingham, about 5 miles from Smethwick. That keeps survey visits, site meetings and follow-up inspections easy to arrange.
HMO rules in Sandwell Council
| Rule | Sandwell Council |
|---|---|
| Mandatory HMO licence (5+ people) | In force everywhere in England |
| Additional HMO licensing | In force Whole borough, 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2029 |
| Selective licensing | None found |
| Article 4 direction for small HMOs | Proposed Cabinet approved an immediate borough-wide direction on 14 October 2026; not confirmed as in force when checked |
Checked October 2026 against Sandwell Council's HMO licensing page. Schemes change, so we confirm the position for your address before any work starts.
Sandwell Council's cabinet approved an immediate borough-wide Article 4 direction on 14 October 2026. We could not confirm whether it has been made, so we check with the council before any change of use. Seven or more occupants always needs planning permission. Sandwell Council also runs additional licensing across its whole area (until 30 September 2029), so smaller HMOs with three or four people from two or more households need a licence too.
En-suite installation for Smethwick landlords
We fit en-suite shower rooms in HMO bedrooms across Smethwick, starting with a check that each bedroom still meets its size standard once the en-suite is built. Councils take different views on whether en-suite floor area counts, so we confirm the local position first.
Older houses often have joists running the wrong way and soil stacks in fixed positions, so in Smethwick we check the drainage route under the floor before quoting. Every en-suite we fit in the West Midlands is finished with a ducted fan, certified electrics and fire stopping.
- Fire stopping where pipes pass through floors and walls
- Electrical work tested and certified
- Bedroom measured to confirm it still meets size standards
- Drainage route checked under the floor at survey
- Extract fan ducted to outside with overrun control
En-suite installation near Smethwick
- Handsworth 1.5 miles
- West Bromwich 1.8 miles
- Oldbury 1.8 miles
- Harborne 2.7 miles
- Rowley Regis 3.1 miles
- Edgbaston 3.2 miles