Birmingham sits within Birmingham City Council, which sets its own HMO standards for room sizes, kitchens and bathrooms. We check a house against those standards before we let rooms or rely on any figures.
You get one point of contact, written terms agreed for each property and regular updates on rent, repairs and compliance.
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 this before an offer is made, not after. 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 property sourcing in Birmingham: what we do
We source houses suited to HMO use in Birmingham and across the West Midlands, 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 Birmingham 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
- Room sizes measured against national minimums
- Licensing position checked for each address
- Written terms and identity checks before we act
- Comparable room lets checked per property
Student and sharer lets in Birmingham
Student demand is only one factor in Birmingham. We check Birmingham City Council's Article 4 and licensing position for the address before any appraisal figures are relied on.