Sandwell Council is the licensing and planning authority for Oldbury. We check its rules for the exact street before we draw a single partition.
We can keep a photographic record of each stage, which is useful evidence when the council inspects or a buyer's surveyor asks questions later.
HMO rules in Sandwell Council
| Rule | Sandwell Council |
|---|---|
| Mandatory HMO licence (5+ people) | In force everywhere in England |
| Additional HMO licensing | In force Whole borough, 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2029 |
| Selective licensing | None found |
| Article 4 direction for small HMOs | Proposed Cabinet approved an immediate borough-wide direction on 14 October 2026; not confirmed as in force when checked |
Checked October 2026 against Sandwell Council's HMO licensing page. Schemes change, so we confirm the position for your address before any work starts.
Sandwell Council's cabinet approved an immediate borough-wide Article 4 direction on 14 October 2026. We could not confirm whether it has been made, so we check with the council before any change of use. Seven or more occupants always needs planning permission. Sandwell Council also runs additional licensing across its whole area (until 30 September 2029), so smaller HMOs with three or four people from two or more households need a licence too.
HMO licence applications in Oldbury: what we do
Licensing rules for shared houses in Oldbury depend on the exact address. Mandatory licensing applies to every HMO with 5 or more occupiers, but additional or selective schemes can bring smaller houses into licensing too. We check which applies before preparing anything, so the application matches the scheme.
For landlords in Oldbury and across the West Midlands, we prepare the floor plan, collect the certificates and complete the council's form. We follow the application through to a decision, help with any draft conditions and keep a note of the renewal date.
- Gas, electrical, alarm and lighting certificates collated
- Help with draft conditions, renewals and variations
- Measured floor plan in the council's usual format
- Council application form completed and checked
- Licence holder, manager and fit and proper details prepared
HMO licence applications near Oldbury
- West Bromwich 1.6 miles
- Rowley Regis 1.6 miles
- Smethwick 1.8 miles
- Dudley 2.8 miles
- Tipton 3 miles
- Handsworth 3.2 miles
