West Midlands
HMO licensing in Birmingham
Birmingham City Council requires a mandatory licence for HMOs occupied by 5 or more people from 2 or more households. It also runs additional licensing (bringing smaller HMOs into licensing) and selective licensing (covering other privately rented homes in designated areas). The published licence fee starts at £1,125.
Mandatory licence
5+ people, 2+ households
National scheme
Additional / selective
Additional + Selective
Council-designated schemes
Licence fee
From £1,125
Decision time
About 8 weeks
The council's stated aim
Licensing schemes in Birmingham
Birmingham's additional HMO licensing covers all wards and applies to HMOs with 3 or more occupants from 2 or more households. It is in force from 5 June 2023 to 4 June 2028. The selective licensing scheme (all private lets in 25 wards) runs on identical dates, 5 June 2023 to 4 June 2028.
- In force from
- 5 June 2023
- Scheme ends
- 4 June 2028
Verified 24 September 2026
Licence fees
The published fee for a new HMO licence is £1,125, and £1,125 to renew. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.
For an HMO with 5 occupants the fee is £1,125: £420 application fee (Part A, non-refundable) plus £705 licence fee (Part B). Larger HMOs pay more: £1,215 for 6 to 11 occupants and £1,300 for 12 or more. A renewal costs the same as a new application. These are the council's published 2022/23 fees, approved in March 2022; no newer fee schedule has been published, so confirm the current charge when you apply.
Fee source: birmingham.gov.uk (checked 7 October 2026). Fees change during the year, so check the council before you apply.
Additional and selective licence fees
Fees for council-designated schemes are set separately from the mandatory HMO fee. Figures are the standard full-rate fee for a new licence, before any discounts.
Additional licence
£755
Additional HMO licence for a smaller HMO (3 or 4 occupants from 2 or more households sharing facilities), single fee per licence; the council states each licence costs £755
No discounts published on the additional licensing page.
Scheme: From 5 June 2023 to 4 June 2028
Checked 5 October 2026 against birmingham.gov.uk
Selective licence
£700
Selective licence for a privately rented single-household property in one of the 25 designated wards, £700 per licence, paid in two parts (Part A and Part B)
Council states there are no discounts for landlords with more than one property. A change of managing agent requires a new licence at the full fee.
Scheme: From 5 June 2023
Checked 5 October 2026 against birmingham.gov.uk
Minimum room sizes
| Double bedroom | Minimum bedroom floor area must meet the applicable HMO standards. |
|---|---|
| Single bedroom | Minimum bedroom floor area must meet the applicable HMO standards. |
National minimums for licensed HMOs are 6.51 m² for one adult and 10.22 m² for two adults; councils can apply higher local standards.
Fire safety requirements
- Keep smoke and heat alarms, emergency lighting and fire precautions in working order.
- Keep escape routes clear and provide fire doors and other measures required by the property risk assessment.
- Maintain current fire alarm, emergency lighting and fire risk assessment records.
Kitchen, bathroom and amenity standards
- Provide suitable kitchen, bathroom and toilet facilities for the number of occupants.
- Maintain shared facilities, amenities and common parts in a reasonable state of repair.
- Keep the property within its licensed occupancy limit and manage household refuse and recycling appropriately.
Documents you will need
- Gas safety certificate (CP12) — Within the last 12 months for every gas appliance on the property.
- EICR — Electrical Installation Condition Report, dated within the last five years.
- EPC — Valid Energy Performance Certificate for the property.
- Floor plan with room dimensions — To scale, showing every room and the stated dimensions.
- Fire risk assessment — Current assessment of the property's means of escape, alarms and compartmentation.
Sources
- birmingham.gov.uk
- birmingham.gov.uk
- birmingham.gov.uk
- birmingham.gov.uk
- birmingham.gov.uk
- birmingham.gov.uk
Compiled from the council’s own published pages and documents; data reviewed September 2026. Rules and fees change, so always confirm with Birmingham City Council before applying. This is general information, not legal advice.