Rental Property Licensing in Birmingham

Birmingham operates a city-wide additional licensing scheme for HMOs, meaning that even smaller shared properties need a licence. If you rent out a property in Birmingham, here is what applies to you.

Additional licensing for smaller HMOs

Birmingham City Council has introduced city-wide additional licensing, which means that even smaller HMOs with three or more tenants now require a licence. This goes further than the national mandatory HMO threshold, which only applies at five or more tenants.

Each additional licence costs £755 and is valid for five years. If you rent out more than one HMO, 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. This is a national requirement under the Housing Act 2004.

For a five-person HMO in Birmingham, fees 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 that have been converted into self-contained flats but 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.

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, which can require the landlord to repay up to 12 months of rent.

How to check if your property needs a licence

The quickest way is to use Tuxa. Enter the property address and you will get an immediate answer on whether a licence is required and which type applies. You can also visit the Birmingham City Council website directly.

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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.