Licensing and planning for HMOs in Staffordshire is handled by the district, borough, city or unitary councils, not one county-wide body. That's why the same house can need different paperwork depending on which side of a council boundary it sits.
In Staffordshire, as everywhere in England, a house with five or more people forming two or more households needs a mandatory HMO licence. Some councils go further with additional licensing or Article 4 directions, as the table shows.
HMO rules across Staffordshire's councils
| Council | Additional licensing | Selective licensing | Article 4 (small HMOs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cannock Chase District Council | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| East Staffordshire Borough Council | None found | In part of the area Parts of Burton until 11 September 2027. A new scheme for 16 Burton streets runs 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2031 | Not confirmed |
| Lichfield District Council | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Proposed The council is investigating a borough-wide direction; none in force when checked |
| South Staffordshire Council | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| Stafford Borough Council | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| Staffordshire Moorlands District Council | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| Stoke-on-Trent City Council | Proposed A citywide scheme was proposed in August 2026, subject to consultation | Not confirmed | In force Whole city, immediate direction from 23 October 2026. It lapses unless the council confirms it within six months |
| Tamworth Borough Council | Proposed Consultation on licensing three and four person HMOs closed 20 August 2026; no decision found | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
Checked October 2026. Mandatory licensing for five or more people applies in every council. Schemes change, so we confirm the position for the address before work starts.
Councils in Staffordshire where we found an Article 4 direction for small HMOs in force, in all or part of their area: Stoke-on-Trent City Council. Article 4 directions are due to start or proposed in: Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council. We found no additional licensing schemes in force that we could confirm, so the mandatory licence for five or more people is the main one to plan for.
How we handle HMO property sourcing work in Staffordshire
We source houses suited to HMO use in Staffordshire, checking each one for Article 4, licensing, room sizes, layout and condition before we put it forward. You receive the checks in writing, with comparable room lets found for that property.
Sourcing in Staffordshire is carried out under written terms, with identity and anti-money-laundering checks before we act. We never hold or pool investors' money and we don't give financial advice, so take regulated advice before you commit to a purchase.
- Houses checked for Article 4 and planning use first
- Layout, condition and guide works cost reviewed
- Comparable room lets checked per property
- Written terms and identity checks before we act
- Room sizes measured against national minimums