HMO feasibility appraisals in the West Midlands

From Walsall, Sutton Coldfield to the smaller towns, we provide HMO feasibility appraisal services across the West Midlands.

We cover the West Midlands from our base in Great Barr, Birmingham, with surveys arranged across the county.

Checked against the local council's HMO rules

Licence and certificates reviewed first

Written terms for each property

Get a quote for the West Midlands

Tell us about the property. We reply within one working day.

We plan each HMO feasibility appraisal job in the West Midlands around the local council's amenity standards, which set out kitchen, bathroom and room-size requirements for shared houses.

Our work in the West Midlands ranges from single conversions for first-time landlords to multi-house programmes for investors, all priced in writing before work starts.

HMO rules across the West Midlands' councils

Council	Additional licensing	Selective licensing	Article 4 (small HMOs)
Birmingham City Council	In force Whole city, 5 June 2023 to 4 June 2028	In part of the area 25 of the city's 69 wards, 5 June 2023 to 4 June 2028	In force Whole city, in force since 8 June 2020
Coventry City Council	In force Whole city, 4 May 2025 to 3 May 2030	None found	In part of the area 11 wards, including Earlsdon, Foleshill, Lower and Upper Stoke, Radford, St Michael's and Westwood, since 30 September 2023
Dudley Council	Not confirmed	Not confirmed	In force Whole borough, since 15 September 2023
Sandwell Council	In force Whole borough, 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2029	None found	Proposed Cabinet approved an immediate borough-wide direction on 14 October 2026; not confirmed as in force when checked
Solihull Council	Not confirmed	Not confirmed	Proposed The council is exploring a direction for smaller HMOs; none in force when checked
Walsall Council	In part of the area Nine wards: Palfrey, Paddock, Pleck and St Matthew's (to 31 August 2027), and Bentley and Darlaston North, Birchills Leamore, Blakenall, Darlaston South and Willenhall South (to 30 June 2028)	None found	In force Whole borough, since 1 October 2025
City of Wolverhampton Council	Proposed The council is preparing a consultation on a scheme for smaller HMOs	Proposed The council is preparing a consultation on a scheme for designated areas	In force Whole city, since 14 September 2017

Checked October 2026. Mandatory licensing for five or more people applies in every council. Schemes change, so we confirm the position for the address before work starts.

Councils in the West Midlands where we found an Article 4 direction for small HMOs in force, in all or part of their area: Birmingham City Council, Coventry City Council, Dudley Council, Walsall Council, City of Wolverhampton Council. Article 4 directions are due to start or proposed in: Sandwell Council, Solihull Council. Additional licensing applies in all or part of: Birmingham City Council, Coventry City Council, Sandwell Council, Walsall Council.

How we handle HMO feasibility appraisal work in the West Midlands

Our HMO appraisals in the West Midlands 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 the West Midlands, 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.

Every room measured against national minimum sizes
Building regulations and fire safety implications
Council amenity standards applied to kitchens and bathrooms
Guide build cost range and key risks listed
Planning route: C4, sui generis or Article 4

Towns we cover in the West Midlands

HMO feasibility appraisals in the West Midlands: common questions

How do Article 4 directions affect HMO investment in the West Midlands?

Where an Article 4 direction applies, turning a family house into a small HMO needs planning permission, which can be refused. We check whether the address is affected before you rely on any figures.

Is the West Midlands a good place for an HMO?

It depends on the street, the house and the local council's rules rather than the town alone. We appraise individual properties against planning, licensing and room-count tests before giving a view.

Can you work with my own architect or lender?

Yes. We can work to another designer's drawings or provide the cost information a lender's surveyor asks for.

Do you charge for an HMO appraisal in the West Midlands?

Talk to us about the property first. We'll explain what an appraisal involves for that house before you commit to anything.