Large HMO conversions in Smethwick

Midlands HMO designs and builds large HMO conversion schemes in Smethwick, with room sizes, fire protection and shared facilities worked out before any walls go up.

Our base in Great Barr is about 5 miles from Smethwick, so surveys and site visits are straightforward to arrange.

One team for build, compliance and lettings

Covering Smethwick and nearby West Midlands towns

Free survey and fixed written quote

Free survey in Smethwick

Tell us about the property. We reply within one working day.

Sandwell Council is the licensing and planning authority for Smethwick. We check its rules for the exact street before we draw a single partition.

Our team is based in Great Barr, Birmingham, about 5 miles from Smethwick. That keeps survey visits, site meetings and follow-up inspections easy to arrange.

HMO rules in Sandwell Council

Rule	Sandwell Council
Mandatory HMO licence (5+ people)	In force everywhere in England
Additional HMO licensing	In force Whole borough, 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2029
Selective licensing	None found
Article 4 direction for small HMOs	Proposed Cabinet approved an immediate borough-wide direction on 14 October 2026; not confirmed as in force when checked

Checked October 2026 against Sandwell Council's HMO licensing page. Schemes change, so we confirm the position for your address before any work starts.

Sandwell Council's cabinet approved an immediate borough-wide Article 4 direction on 14 October 2026. We could not confirm whether it has been made, so we check with the council before any change of use. Seven or more occupants always needs planning permission. Sandwell Council also runs additional licensing across its whole area (until 30 September 2029), so smaller HMOs with three or four people from two or more households need a licence too.

Large HMO conversions in Smethwick: what we do

For larger houses and buildings in Smethwick, we assess whether an HMO for seven or more people is realistic before any design money is spent. That means checking local planning policy, the structure, the escape routes and how many kitchens and bathrooms the occupancy would need.

If the scheme works, we prepare the planning drawings, agree the fire strategy with building control and build floor by floor. It suits bigger properties in Smethwick and across the West Midlands where a six-bedroom layout would leave usable space empty.

Floor-by-floor build programme with building control inspections
Fire strategy agreed with building control at the start
Kitchens and bathrooms sized to council amenity standards
Handover file prepared for the mandatory licence
Planning drawings and room schedule for the application

Large HMO conversions near Smethwick

Handsworth 1.5 miles
West Bromwich 1.8 miles
Oldbury 1.8 miles
Harborne 2.7 miles
Rowley Regis 3.1 miles
Edgbaston 3.2 miles

What landlords in Smethwick ask us

Do I need planning permission to convert a house to an HMO in Smethwick?

It depends on the number of occupants and whether Sandwell Council has an Article 4 direction covering the address. Seven or more occupants always needs planning permission. We check the position for your street before quoting.

Do you handle building regulations for conversions in Smethwick?

Yes. An HMO conversion often involves building regulations work such as fire protection, new partitions and drainage, and we arrange approval and inspections with local authority building control or a registered building control approver.

Can you convert part of a building above a shop in Smethwick?

Often, yes. Flats above shops need extra attention to fire separation from the commercial unit, and we assess this at survey stage.

What size must bedrooms be in an HMO in Smethwick?

For licensed HMOs in England a room for one adult must be at least 6.51 square metres and a room for two adults at least 10.22 square metres. Sandwell Council may set additional standards, which we design to.