HMO projects in West Bromwich are shaped by the rules of Sandwell Council. Before we price anything, we check whether the address falls within an additional licensing scheme or an Article 4 direction, because both change what the house needs and how long it takes.
We cover B70 and the neighbouring postcodes, with the same standards in West Bromwich as anywhere else in the West Midlands.
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.
Our HMO loft conversion service in West Bromwich
Plenty of houses have roof space that could hold extra bedrooms, but in West Bromwich 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 West Bromwich 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.
- New staircase and protected escape route
- Planning and permitted development position checked first
- Alarm extended and doors upgraded on lower floors
- Structural design and building control application
- Updated floor plans for the licence file
Loft conversions for HMOs near West Bromwich
- Oldbury 1.6 miles
- Smethwick 1.8 miles
- Handsworth 2.4 miles
- Wednesbury 2.6 miles
- Tipton 3.2 miles
- Great Barr 3.2 miles