If the property is in Smethwick, the council that matters is Sandwell Council. We look up its current schemes for the address, note any conditions it usually attaches, and plan the work to suit.
Quotes list each item of work, so you can see where the money goes and compare like for like.
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 Smethwick landlords
Plenty of houses have roof space that could hold extra bedrooms, but in Smethwick 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 Smethwick 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.
- Planning and permitted development position checked first
- Headroom survey and countable floor area calculation
- Updated floor plans for the licence file
- Structural design and building control application
- New staircase and protected escape route
Loft conversions for HMOs near Smethwick
- Handsworth 1.5 miles
- West Bromwich 1.8 miles
- Oldbury 1.8 miles
- Harborne 2.7 miles
- Rowley Regis 3.1 miles
- Edgbaston 3.2 miles