HMO maintenance and repairs in the West Midlands

Across the West Midlands, our HMO maintenance service follows the same approach: measured survey, council rules checked for the address, fixed written quote.

the West Midlands has 7 councils with HMO responsibilities, and their schemes are not the same. The table below shows what we found for each.

Build, compliance and lettings in one team

One point of contact

Covering the West Midlands and nearby West Midlands towns

Ask about a house in the West Midlands

Tell us about the property. We reply within one working day.

In the West Midlands, as everywhere in England, a house with five or more people forming two or more households needs a mandatory HMO licence. Some councils go further with additional licensing or Article 4 directions, as the table shows.

We plan each HMO maintenance job in the West Midlands around the local council's amenity standards, which set out kitchen, bathroom and room-size requirements for shared houses.

HMO rules across the West Midlands' councils

Council	Additional licensing	Selective licensing	Article 4 (small HMOs)
Birmingham City Council	In force Whole city, 5 June 2023 to 4 June 2028	In part of the area 25 of the city's 69 wards, 5 June 2023 to 4 June 2028	In force Whole city, in force since 8 June 2020
Coventry City Council	In force Whole city, 4 May 2025 to 3 May 2030	None found	In part of the area 11 wards, including Earlsdon, Foleshill, Lower and Upper Stoke, Radford, St Michael's and Westwood, since 30 September 2023
Dudley Council	Not confirmed	Not confirmed	In force Whole borough, since 15 September 2023
Sandwell Council	In force Whole borough, 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2029	None found	Proposed Cabinet approved an immediate borough-wide direction on 14 October 2026; not confirmed as in force when checked
Solihull Council	Not confirmed	Not confirmed	Proposed The council is exploring a direction for smaller HMOs; none in force when checked
Walsall Council	In part of the area Nine wards: Palfrey, Paddock, Pleck and St Matthew's (to 31 August 2027), and Bentley and Darlaston North, Birchills Leamore, Blakenall, Darlaston South and Willenhall South (to 30 June 2028)	None found	In force Whole borough, since 1 October 2025
City of Wolverhampton Council	Proposed The council is preparing a consultation on a scheme for smaller HMOs	Proposed The council is preparing a consultation on a scheme for designated areas	In force Whole city, since 14 September 2017

Checked October 2026. Mandatory licensing for five or more people applies in every council. Schemes change, so we confirm the position for the address before work starts.

Councils in the West Midlands where we found an Article 4 direction for small HMOs in force, in all or part of their area: Birmingham City Council, Coventry City Council, Dudley Council, Walsall Council, City of Wolverhampton Council. Article 4 directions are due to start or proposed in: Sandwell Council, Solihull Council. Additional licensing applies in all or part of: Birmingham City Council, Coventry City Council, Sandwell Council, Walsall Council.

How we handle HMO maintenance work in the West Midlands

Our maintenance team covers shared houses in the West Midlands, carrying out planned work, repairs and void works. We log every report and agree a priority with the owner, so safety items such as fire doors, alarms and heating are dealt with ahead of routine jobs.

For HMOs in the West Midlands, we keep fire alarm and emergency lighting test records, certificates and repair notes in one property file, ready if the local council inspects the house or asks for evidence that the licence conditions are being met.

Void works between tenancies
Reactive repairs logged and given an agreed priority
Communal area cleaning coordinated and checked
Planned maintenance schedule built around each house
Gas Safe engineers and qualified electricians for safety work

Towns we cover in the West Midlands

Questions about HMO maintenance in the West Midlands

How do you find tenants for rooms in the West Midlands?

We advertise each room, carry out viewings, reference applicants and handle move-in, with rooms let under the tenancy rules in force at the time.

What do tenants pay you?

Tenants don't pay us letting fees. Under the Tenant Fees Act 2019, only certain payments such as rent and a capped deposit can be charged. Our fees page sets this out.

Do you handle repairs as well as lettings?

Yes. Our maintenance team carries out repairs and planned work, so reported problems don't wait for a separate contractor to be found.

Who keeps the HMO licence conditions up to date?

As managing agent we keep the compliance diary: certificates, fire alarm testing records, inspections and anything the licence conditions require.