Shared houses in Brownhills need to satisfy Walsall Council's licensing team as well as building regulations. We plan for both from the first survey, which avoids rework later.
Our team is based in Great Barr, Birmingham, about 5 miles from Brownhills. That keeps survey visits, site meetings and follow-up inspections easy to arrange.
HMO rules in Walsall Council
| Rule | Walsall Council |
|---|---|
| Mandatory HMO licence (5+ people) | In force everywhere in England |
| Additional HMO licensing | 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) |
| Selective licensing | None found |
| Article 4 direction for small HMOs | In force Whole borough, since 1 October 2025 |
Checked October 2026 against Walsall Council's HMO licensing page. Schemes change, so we confirm the position for your address before any work starts.
Walsall Council has an Article 4 direction across its whole area, so turning a family house in Brownhills into a small HMO needs planning permission. We check the planning history of the address as part of any licence work. Seven or more occupants always needs planning permission. Walsall Council's additional licensing covers nine wards, including Palfrey, Paddock, Pleck, St Matthew's, Blakenall, Birchills Leamore, Darlaston South and Willenhall South, which doesn't include Brownhills, so the mandatory licence for five or more people is the main one to plan for there.
HMO compliance audits for Brownhills landlords
An audit of an HMO in Brownhills checks the house the way a licensing officer would: room sizes, fire safety, amenities, certificates and paperwork. You get a written, prioritised fix list, so you know what needs doing before an inspection, renewal or purchase.
Councils across the West Midlands set their own HMO standards on top of the national rules. Our audits of houses in Brownhills check against both, and we can quote for any work the report identifies once you have read it.
- Written report with a prioritised, photographed fix list
- Licence conditions checked against the house as it is
- Management Regulations 2006 duties checked on site
- Certificates and tenancy paperwork checked for gaps and dates
- Fire precautions and fire risk assessment reviewed