Running an HMO in Birmingham 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.
Our team is based in Great Barr, Birmingham, about 6 miles from Birmingham, which keeps inspections and property visits 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 Birmingham into a small HMO needs planning permission. Before we take a house on, we check it has the planning status it needs. 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 guaranteed rent for Birmingham landlords
We offer guaranteed rent leases on suitable shared houses in Birmingham and elsewhere in the West Midlands. Before making an offer we survey the house, measure the rooms and check the local council's licensing and planning position for the address, because those decide how many people can lawfully live there.
Owners in Birmingham who lease to any operator should check the licence, certificates and tenancy paperwork, because licensing offences and rent repayment orders can reach superior landlords since 1 May 2026. Have the lease reviewed by your own solicitor before you sign.
- Licence and certificate records shared with you
- Draft lease supplied for your own solicitor to review
- Repair responsibilities set out clearly in the lease
- Lease of the whole house for a fixed monthly rent
- Inspections with written reports to the owner
Sharer demand in Birmingham
Student lets in Birmingham often follow the academic year. Since 1 May 2026, Ground 4A can let a landlord of a student HMO seek possession for the summer, but only if every condition is met, including: each tenant is, or is reasonably expected to become, a full-time student; written notice was given before signing; the tenancy was signed no more than six months before move-in; the timing condition is met; and the landlord intends to re-let to students.