Stoke-on-Trent City Council is the licensing and planning authority for Burslem. We confirm the house has the licence and planning status it needs before anything else.
You get one point of contact, written terms agreed for each property and regular updates on rent, repairs and compliance.
HMO rules in Stoke-on-Trent City Council
| Rule | Stoke-on-Trent City Council |
|---|---|
| Mandatory HMO licence (5+ people) | In force everywhere in England |
| Additional HMO licensing | Proposed A citywide scheme was proposed in August 2026, subject to consultation |
| Selective licensing | Not confirmed |
| Article 4 direction for small HMOs | In force Whole city, immediate direction from 23 October 2026. It lapses unless the council confirms it within six months |
Checked October 2026 against Stoke-on-Trent City Council's HMO licensing page. Schemes change, so we confirm the position for your address before any work starts.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council has an Article 4 direction across its whole area, so turning a family house in Burslem into a small HMO needs planning permission. This is an immediate direction that took effect on 23 October 2026 and lapses unless the council confirms it within six months. We check this before an offer is made, not after. Seven or more occupants always needs planning permission. Stoke-on-Trent City Council proposed a citywide additional licensing scheme in August 2026, subject to consultation, so smaller HMOs may need a licence in future.
HMO feasibility appraisals in Burslem: what we do
Our HMO appraisals in Burslem start with the address: we check the local council's licensing schemes, any Article 4 direction and its amenity standards for kitchens and bathrooms, then measure each room against the national minimum sizes to find the likely room count.
For houses in Burslem and elsewhere in Staffordshire, the appraisal also covers the planning route, building regulations and fire implications, a guide build cost range and the main risks. It is property information, not a valuation or financial advice.
- Guide build cost range and key risks listed
- Planning route: C4, sui generis or Article 4
- Every room measured against national minimum sizes
- Building regulations and fire safety implications
- Licensing position for the address
HMO feasibility appraisals near Burslem
- Tunstall under a mile
- Hanley 1.7 miles
- Newcastle-under-Lyme 2.7 miles
- Stoke-on-Trent 2.8 miles
- Fenton 3.3 miles
- Kidsgrove 3.4 miles