Most of the cost and risk in an HMO is decided at the design stage. In Penn we start by measuring every room and checking City of Wolverhampton Council's position on licensing and planning, then build the specification around it.
Work is carried out by S&K and vetted subcontractors working under S&K's supervision, so you contract with one company for the whole project.
HMO rules in City of Wolverhampton Council
| Rule | City of Wolverhampton Council |
|---|---|
| Mandatory HMO licence (5+ people) | In force everywhere in England |
| Additional HMO licensing | Proposed The council is preparing a consultation on a scheme for smaller HMOs |
| Selective licensing | Proposed The council is preparing a consultation on a scheme for designated areas |
| Article 4 direction for small HMOs | In force Whole city, since 14 September 2017 |
Checked October 2026 against City of Wolverhampton Council's HMO licensing page. Schemes change, so we confirm the position for your address before any work starts.
City of Wolverhampton Council has an Article 4 direction across its whole area, so turning a family house in Penn 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. City of Wolverhampton Council is preparing a consultation on additional licensing for smaller HMOs, with no scheme in force when we checked.
How we handle HMO compliance audit work in Penn
An audit of an HMO in Penn 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 Penn check against both, and we can quote for any work the report identifies once you have read it.
- Management Regulations 2006 duties checked on site
- Written report with a prioritised, photographed fix list
- Fire precautions and fire risk assessment reviewed
- Every bedroom measured, including the 1.5 m ceiling rule
- Certificates and tenancy paperwork checked for gaps and dates
HMO compliance audits near Penn
- Sedgley 1.7 miles
- Wombourne 2.6 miles
- Tettenhall 2.9 miles
- Bilston 3.3 miles
- Wednesfield 3.7 miles
- Tipton 3.9 miles