HMO compliance audits in Harborne

For landlords in Harborne, our HMO compliance audit service turns the council's requirements into a clear list of documents, works and dates.

Whether the house in Harborne is empty, let or mid-purchase, we can start with the survey.

One team for build, compliance and lettings

Work by S&K and vetted subcontractors

Quotes itemised so you can compare

Ask about a house in Harborne

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

Most of the cost and risk in an HMO is decided at the design stage. In Harborne we start by measuring every room and checking Birmingham City Council's position on licensing and planning, then build the specification around it.

Our team is based in Great Barr, Birmingham, about 7 miles from Harborne. That keeps survey visits, site meetings and follow-up inspections easy to arrange.

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 Harborne 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. 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 compliance audits in Harborne: what we do

An audit of an HMO in Harborne 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 Harborne check against both, and we can quote for any work the report identifies once you have read it.

Every bedroom measured, including the 1.5 m ceiling rule
Management Regulations 2006 duties checked on site
Fire precautions and fire risk assessment reviewed
Licence conditions checked against the house as it is
Certificates and tenancy paperwork checked for gaps and dates

HMO compliance audits near Harborne

Selly Oak 1.5 miles
Bournbrook 1.5 miles
Edgbaston 1.5 miles
Smethwick 2.7 miles
Northfield 2.9 miles
Moseley 3 miles

Questions about HMO compliance audit in Harborne

Do HMOs in Harborne need a fire risk assessment?

Fire safety law requires a fire risk assessment of the common parts of most HMOs, and councils commonly ask to see one with a licence application. We arrange the assessment and the works it recommends.

Do I need a licence for a three or four person HMO in Harborne?

Yes. Birmingham City Council runs additional licensing across its whole area, so a three or four person HMO in Harborne with two or more households needs a licence. Mandatory licensing covers five or more people.

What documents does Birmingham City Council ask for with an HMO licence?

Councils usually ask for floor plans showing room sizes and fire safety features, gas and electrical safety certificates, and fire alarm and emergency lighting certificates. We check Birmingham City Council's current list for your application.

Who issues HMO licences in Harborne?

Birmingham City Council is the licensing authority for Harborne. We prepare the application and supporting documents, and the council decides whether to grant the licence and on what conditions.