An HMO in Oldbury has to work for three audiences: the council, the people who live there and the owner's figures. We design with all three in mind and price the result in writing.
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.
Loft conversions for HMOs for Oldbury landlords
Plenty of houses have roof space that could hold extra bedrooms, but in Oldbury we always measure the headroom first, because floor under a 1.5 m ceiling does not count towards room size. That tells you how many rooms the loft can really add.
A loft room usually creates a third storey, so we plan the protected escape route and alarm upgrades for the whole Oldbury house, not just the new floor. We also check the occupant count, because seven or more residents needs planning permission anywhere in the West Midlands.
- Alarm extended and doors upgraded on lower floors
- Headroom survey and countable floor area calculation
- Structural design and building control application
- Planning and permitted development position checked first
- Updated floor plans for the licence file
Loft conversions for HMOs 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