Gas, electrical and alarm certificates in Handsworth

We handle HMO safety certificate work for HMOs in Handsworth and the rest of the West Midlands, checking each requirement against Birmingham City Council's current rules.

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Handsworth sits within Birmingham City Council, which sets its own HMO standards for room sizes, kitchens and bathrooms. Our designs start from those standards, so the layout we price is designed to meet the council's licensing requirements.

We cover B21 and the neighbouring postcodes, with the same standards in Handsworth 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 Handsworth 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.

How we handle HMO safety certificate work in Handsworth

Landlords in Handsworth 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 Handsworth 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.

Fire alarm and emergency lighting servicing certificates
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarm checks and replacements
Annual gas safety checks by Gas Safe registered engineers
Remedial electrical work quoted to meet the 28-day deadline
Compliance diary with every due date in one place

Gas, electrical and alarm certificates near Handsworth

Smethwick 1.5 miles
Perry Barr 1.8 miles
Aston 2.3 miles
West Bromwich 2.4 miles
Great Barr 2.7 miles
Edgbaston 3.2 miles

Gas, electrical and alarm certificates in Handsworth: common questions

Who issues HMO licences in Handsworth?

Birmingham City Council is the licensing authority for Handsworth. We prepare the application and supporting documents, and the council decides whether to grant the licence and on what conditions.

How long does an HMO licence last?

A licence can last up to five years. Birmingham City Council may grant a shorter licence, for example where it has concerns about the property or the management.

What documents does Birmingham City Council ask for with an HMO licence?

Councils usually ask for floor plans showing room sizes and fire safety features, gas and electrical safety certificates, and fire alarm and emergency lighting certificates. We check Birmingham City Council's current list for your application.

Do HMOs in Handsworth need a fire risk assessment?

Fire safety law requires a fire risk assessment of the common parts of most HMOs, and councils commonly ask to see one with a licence application. We arrange the assessment and the works it recommends.