What is HMO guaranteed rent?

A company leases the whole house for a fixed monthly rent and lets the rooms itself. A company let is governed by the lease terms rather than the assured tenancy rules, and owners can still be exposed if the operator breaks licensing rules, so have the lease checked by your own solicitor.

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.

Do you manage HMOs across the West Midlands?

Yes. We manage shared houses in the West Midlands and across the West Midlands, from letting individual rooms to rent collection, repairs and licence compliance.

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.

HMO management in the West Midlands

Licensing and planning for HMOs in the West Midlands is handled by the district, borough, city or unitary councils, not one county-wide body. That's why the same house can need different paperwork depending on which side of a council boundary it sits.

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.

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.

HMO management for the West Midlands landlords

Our HMO management in the West Midlands covers the whole cycle of a shared house: letting rooms, collecting rent, arranging repairs and keeping the licence conditions and certificates in date. We check the local council's licensing scheme for the address before taking a house on, because conditions vary across the West Midlands.

For owners in the West Midlands, we can also help with registration on the PRS Database, which is due to open region by region from 15 December 2026, starting in the West Midlands, subject to Parliament approving the regulations. Repairs are handled by our own maintenance team.

Regular inspections of rooms and common parts
Room advertising, viewings, referencing and tenancy set-up
Management Regulations 2006 duties carried out day to day
Compliance diary for licence conditions, gas, EICR and alarms
Rent collection, arrears follow-up and monthly statements

HMO management in the West Midlands

Free survey in the West Midlands

HMO rules across the West Midlands' councils

HMO management for the West Midlands landlords

Towns we cover in the West Midlands

Questions about HMO management in the West Midlands

Planning an HMO in the West Midlands?