If the property is in Birmingham, the council that matters is Birmingham City 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 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 Birmingham into a small HMO needs planning permission. We check the planning history of the address as part of any licence work. 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.
HMO planning and Article 4 in Birmingham: what we do
Planning for an HMO in Birmingham starts with three questions: what the current lawful use is, whether an Article 4 direction covers the street, and what local policy says about the concentration of shared houses. We answer all three before you spend money on design.
For landlords and investors in Birmingham and the rest of the West Midlands, we prepare planning applications and lawful development certificates, with the plans and evidence councils commonly ask for. We also explain where licensing and building regulations need a separate approval.
- Lawful development certificate applications with dated evidence
- Submission and liaison with the planning officer
- Advice on Class L, C4 and sui generis routes
- Check of lawful use, Article 4 and local HMO policies
- Existing and proposed floor plans and site plans
Sharer demand in Birmingham
If the house in Birmingham is let to students or sharers, up-to-date certificates, measured plans and a current fire risk assessment make any council inspection more straightforward, and they are usually asked for with a licence application.