Most of the cost and risk in an HMO is decided at the design stage. In Coventry we start by measuring every room and checking Coventry City Council's position on licensing and planning, then build the specification around it.
Our team is based in Great Barr, Birmingham, about 20 miles from Coventry. That keeps survey visits, site meetings and follow-up inspections easy to arrange.
HMO rules in Coventry City Council
| Rule | Coventry City Council |
|---|---|
| Mandatory HMO licence (5+ people) | In force everywhere in England |
| Additional HMO licensing | In force Whole city, 4 May 2025 to 3 May 2030 |
| Selective licensing | None found |
| Article 4 direction for small HMOs | In part of the area 11 wards, including Earlsdon, Foleshill, Lower and Upper Stoke, Radford, St Michael's and Westwood, since 30 September 2023 |
Checked October 2026 against Coventry City Council's HMO licensing page. Schemes change, so we confirm the position for your address before any work starts.
Coventry City Council's Article 4 direction covers 11 wards across the city, including Earlsdon, Foleshill, Lower and Upper Stoke, Radford, St Michael's and Westwood, which includes Coventry, so turning a family house in Coventry 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. Coventry City Council also runs additional licensing across its whole area (until 3 May 2030), so smaller HMOs with three or four people from two or more households need a licence too.
Gas, electrical and alarm certificates for Coventry landlords
Landlords in Coventry need the same core certificates as anywhere in England: an annual gas safety record, an EICR at least every 5 years and working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Licence conditions often add fire alarm and emergency lighting servicing to the list.
We arrange checks for HMOs in Coventry and across the West Midlands, book them before they fall due and keep every date in a compliance diary. Where a report needs remedial work, we quote for it straight away so deadlines are met.
- Smoke and carbon monoxide alarm checks and replacements
- Fire alarm and emergency lighting servicing certificates
- Compliance diary with every due date in one place
- EICRs by qualified electricians, at least every 5 years
- Remedial electrical work quoted to meet the 28-day deadline
Student and sharer lets in Coventry
If the house in Coventry 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.