Rental Property Licensing in Birmingham
Birmingham operates city-wide additional HMO licensing. Find out what applies to your rental property.
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Birmingham is the largest local authority in England, and its licensing requirements reflect the scale and complexity of its private rented sector. If you own a rental property in Birmingham, here is what you need to know.
Additional licensing for smaller HMOs
Birmingham City Council operates city-wide additional licensing for HMOs. This means that even smaller shared properties with three or more tenants from two or more households need a licence. This goes further than the national mandatory HMO threshold, which only applies at five or more tenants.
An additional licence costs £755 per property and is valid for five years. If you rent out more than one HMO in Birmingham, you need a separate licence for each property.
Mandatory HMO licensing
Mandatory HMO licensing applies across Birmingham, as it does across all of England, for properties with five or more tenants from two or more households sharing facilities. Fees for a five-person HMO start at £1,150, with an additional £50 per extra person beyond five.
Section 257 HMOs
Birmingham's licensing regime also covers Section 257 HMOs: buildings converted into self-contained flats that do not comply with the 1991 building regulations. If you own such a building, it may need a licence even if each flat is occupied by a single household.
Selective licensing in Birmingham
Birmingham does not currently operate a city-wide selective licensing scheme, but the council has the power to introduce schemes in specific areas. It is worth checking whether any selective licensing schemes have been introduced in your property's ward.
What happens if you do not have a licence
Operating a licensable HMO in Birmingham without a licence can result in a civil penalty of up to £30,000. Tenants may also be able to apply for a Rent Repayment Order.
How to check if your property needs a licence
Use Tuxa to check any address in Birmingham instantly. You can also visit the Birmingham City Council website for more information on the additional licensing scheme.
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Tuxa monitors licensing scheme data across England. Use the search above to check any property in Birmingham or anywhere else in the country.
Related guides
What Happens If My HMO Rental Property Is Not Licensed?
Operating an unlicensed HMO can result in unlimited fines, rent repayment orders and difficulty regaining possession. Here is exactly what you are up against if your property is not licensed.
What is an Additional HMO Licensing Scheme?
Additional HMO licensing extends beyond mandatory licensing to cover smaller shared properties. Councils can introduce it borough-wide, and many of the most active rental markets in England have done so.
Who is Responsible for Applying for a HMO Licence: Landlord or Agent?
The legal responsibility for holding a HMO licence sits with the landlord, but letting agents often manage the process. Here is how the responsibility is divided and what happens if things go wrong.
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