A shared house in Selly Oak has to work for the council, the people who live there and the owner's figures. We look at all three before we agree terms.
We cover B29 and the neighbouring postcodes, with the same approach in Selly Oak as anywhere else in the West Midlands.
HMO rules in Birmingham City Council
| Rule | Birmingham City Council |
|---|---|
| Mandatory HMO licence (5+ people) | In force everywhere in England |
| Additional HMO licensing | In force Whole city, 5 June 2023 to 4 June 2028 |
| Selective licensing | In part of the area 25 of the city's 69 wards, 5 June 2023 to 4 June 2028 |
| Article 4 direction for small HMOs | In force Whole city, in force since 8 June 2020 |
Checked October 2026 against Birmingham City Council's HMO licensing page. Schemes change, so we confirm the position for your address before any work starts.
Birmingham City Council has an Article 4 direction across its whole area, so turning a family house in Selly Oak into a small HMO needs planning permission. Before we take a house on, we check it has the planning status it needs. Seven or more occupants always needs planning permission. Birmingham City Council also runs additional licensing across its whole area (until 4 June 2028), so smaller HMOs with three or four people from two or more households need a licence too.
Our HMO management service in Selly Oak
Our HMO management in Selly Oak 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 Selly Oak, 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.
- Compliance diary for licence conditions, gas, EICR and alarms
- Management Regulations 2006 duties carried out day to day
- Regular inspections of rooms and common parts
- Repairs by our own maintenance team
- Room advertising, viewings, referencing and tenancy set-up
Letting to students and sharers in Selly Oak
Student lets in Selly Oak often follow the academic year. Since 1 May 2026, Ground 4A can let a landlord of a student HMO seek possession for the summer, but only if every condition is met, including: each tenant is, or is reasonably expected to become, a full-time student; written notice was given before signing; the tenancy was signed no more than six months before move-in; the timing condition is met; and the landlord intends to re-let to students.
HMO management near Selly Oak
- Bournbrook under a mile
- Harborne 1.5 miles
- Edgbaston 1.8 miles
- Stirchley 1.8 miles
- Bournville 1.8 miles
- Northfield 1.9 miles