Running an HMO in Northfield means keeping Birmingham City Council's licence conditions, the management regulations and the tenancy rules in step. We keep those together in one compliance diary.
Terms for management, tenant-find or guaranteed rent are agreed in writing for each property before you instruct us.
HMO rules in Birmingham City Council
| Rule | Birmingham City Council |
|---|---|
| Mandatory HMO licence (5+ people) | In force everywhere in England |
| Additional HMO licensing | In force Whole city, 5 June 2023 to 4 June 2028 |
| Selective licensing | In part of the area 25 of the city's 69 wards, 5 June 2023 to 4 June 2028 |
| Article 4 direction for small HMOs | In force Whole city, in force since 8 June 2020 |
Checked October 2026 against Birmingham City Council's HMO licensing page. Schemes change, so we confirm the position for your address before any work starts.
Birmingham City Council has an Article 4 direction across its whole area, so turning a family house in Northfield into a small HMO needs planning permission. We check this before an offer is made, not after. Seven or more occupants always needs planning permission. Birmingham City Council also runs additional licensing across its whole area (until 4 June 2028), so smaller HMOs with three or four people from two or more households need a licence too.
HMO feasibility appraisals for Northfield landlords
Our HMO appraisals in Northfield 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 Northfield and elsewhere 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.
- Council amenity standards applied to kitchens and bathrooms
- Guide build cost range and key risks listed
- Building regulations and fire safety implications
- Every room measured against national minimum sizes
- Licensing position for the address
HMO feasibility appraisals near Northfield
- Longbridge 1.3 miles
- Kings Norton 1.8 miles
- Selly Oak 1.9 miles
- Bournbrook 1.9 miles
- Stirchley 2.1 miles
- Bournville 2.1 miles