Walsall Council is the licensing and planning authority for Walsall. We check its rules for the exact street before we draw a single partition.
We cover WS1, WS2, WS5 and the neighbouring postcodes, with the same standards in Walsall as anywhere else in the West Midlands.
HMO rules in Walsall Council
| Rule | Walsall Council |
|---|---|
| Mandatory HMO licence (5+ people) | In force everywhere in England |
| Additional HMO licensing | 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) |
| Selective licensing | None found |
| Article 4 direction for small HMOs | In force Whole borough, since 1 October 2025 |
Checked October 2026 against Walsall Council's HMO licensing page. Schemes change, so we confirm the position for your address before any work starts.
Walsall Council has an Article 4 direction across its whole area, so turning a family house in Walsall 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. Walsall Council runs additional licensing in nine wards, including Palfrey, Paddock, Pleck, St Matthew's, Blakenall, Birchills Leamore, Darlaston South and Willenhall South, so smaller HMOs there need a licence too. We check whether the address in Walsall is covered.
Our HMO planning permission service in Walsall
Planning for an HMO in Walsall 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 Walsall 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.
- Submission and liaison with the planning officer
- Advice on Class L, C4 and sui generis routes
- Existing and proposed floor plans and site plans
- Check of lawful use, Article 4 and local HMO policies
- Planning statement covering concentration, amenity, parking and bins
HMO planning and Article 4 near Walsall
- Willenhall 2.3 miles
- Bloxwich 2.4 miles
- Darlaston 2.4 miles
- Wednesbury 2.9 miles
- Aldridge 3.1 miles
- Great Barr 3.5 miles