West Midlands
HMO licensing in Sandwell
Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council requires a mandatory licence for HMOs occupied by 5 or more people from 2 or more households. It also runs additional licensing, which brings smaller HMOs (typically 3 or 4 people) into licensing. The council does not publish a single licence fee, so check its fees page.
Mandatory licence
5+ people, 2+ households
National scheme
Additional / selective
Additional
Council-designated schemes
Licence fee
Not published
Decision time
Not published
Licensing schemes in Sandwell
Sandwell's borough-wide additional HMO licensing scheme requires a licence for HMOs with 3 or more people from 2 or more households that are not already covered by mandatory licensing. It came into force on 1 October 2024 and ceases on 30 September 2029 unless revoked earlier. No selective licensing scheme or new consultation was found.
- In force from
- 1 October 2024
- Scheme ends
- 30 September 2029
Verified 24 September 2026
Licence fees
Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council does not publish a single figure we could confirm. Fees are set by the council and reviewed each year, so check its fees page.
Sandwell's fees rise every 1 April and its published table is still the 2025/26 one: £1,021 for a new licence (£655 then £366) and £727.25 for a renewal (£507.25 then £220). The 2026/27 amount will be higher, so confirm the current fee with the council. Discounts: £168.30 for MLAS membership or housing/management training, £56.10 for NRLA (or similar) membership, and £56.10 for a second or subsequent property.
Fee source: sandwell.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
£1,021
Renewal £727.25
First application for an HMO licence (same fee applies to additional and mandatory HMOs), full rate, paid in two parts (£655 + £366); fee as published for 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026. The council states fees rise each 1 April.
£168.30 off for MLAS membership or recognised housing training/qualification (initial applications only); £56.10 off for NRLA or similar membership; £56.10 off for second and subsequent properties.
Scheme: From 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2029
Checked 2 October 2026 against sandwell.gov.uk
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 its floor area against the HMO minimums.
- Fire risk assessment — Current assessment of the property's means of escape, alarms and compartmentation.
Sources
Compiled from the council’s own published pages and documents; data reviewed September 2026. Rules and fees change, so always confirm with Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council before applying. This is general information, not legal advice.