West Midlands (met county) · Council licensing
Landlord licensing in Walsall
✓ Hand-verified 21 Aug 2026Walsall operates discretionary property licensing. Letting an unlicensed property where a scheme applies risks a civil penalty of up to £30,000 and a rent repayment order — check whether your property is covered below.
Required for any HMO let to 5 or more people forming 2+ households who share facilities.
The band is set by how many people live in the property, and the licence lasts 5 years.
| Part A | £930 |
| Part B | £310 |
| Total, 5 to 6 persons | £1,240 |
| 7 to 8 | £1,510 |
| 9 to 14 | £2,215 |
| 15 to 19 | £2,375 |
| up to 30 persons | £3,140 |
| 5 to 6 persons | £990 |
| 7 to 8 | £1,265 |
| 9 to 14 | £1,825 |
| Each person | £80 |
- Renewals lower: non-accredited 5 to 6 £920, accredited 5 to 6 £680
- £70 reduction applies per additional HMO
Walsall — go.walsall.gov.uk, read 19 Aug 2026
Walsall operates no selective licensing designation under s.80. this row previously described phases as "Phase 1: Pleck, Palfrey, Paddocks, St Matthews. Phase 2: Willenhall...", which reads like selective areas. Those ward phases are ADDITIONAL HMO licensing under s.56, not selective. The council states it in its own words: "You need a licence for an HMO that is occupied by three or more tenants from more than one household and is in any of these wards: Palfrey, Paddock, Pleck, St Matthews... The additional licensing rules apply from 1 September 2022 until 31 August 2027." A second additional designation extended coverage to Bentley and Darlaston North, Birchills Leamore, Blakenall, Darlaston South and Willenhall South. The characterisation of these wards as selective originates with third parties and is wrong. Distinguished from Wolverhampton, Sandwell, Birmingham and Dudley. Established 21 Aug 2026.
Walsall Council operates two additional HMO licensing schemes covering nine wards between them. The first was approved in October 2021 and came into force on 1 September 2022 for five years, covering Pleck, Palfrey, Paddocks and St Matthews. Cabinet approved a second scheme on 7 September 2022, operational from 1 July 2023, covering Willenhall South, Birchills Leamore, Blakenall, Bentley and Darlaston North, and Darlaston South. In those wards a landlord letting to three or four unrelated people needs a licence from the council, subject to statutory exemptions. Larger houses in multiple occupation with five or more occupants need a mandatory licence anywhere in the borough. The council has said it will enforce against non-compliance, and letting without a required licence carries an unlimited fine on prosecution or a civil penalty of up to £30,000 per offence. Check the specific address against the ward list before letting.
Areas: Phase 1: Pleck, Palfrey, Paddocks, St Matthews. Phase 2: Willenhall South, Birchills Leamore, Blakenall, Bentley and Darlaston North, Darlaston South
Walsall publishes this much: Two designations, both additional; Walsall operates NO selective scheme. Scheme 1: Pleck, Palfrey, Paddocks and St Matthews, 1 September 2022 to 31 August 2027, live. Scheme 2: Bentley and Darlaston North, Birchills Leamore, Blakenall, Darlaston South and Willenhall South, 1 July 2023 to 30 JUNE 2026. Scheme 2 has EXPIRED, seven weeks before this note. The mandatory fee table above applies to additional licences.
The council’s own licensing page carries the charge that applies today — confirm it there before you budget.
Not established is not the same as free.
Scheme runs until: 31 August 2027
Common questions
Does Walsall have a selective licensing scheme?
No. Walsall does not currently operate a selective licensing scheme. Mandatory HMO licensing still applies wherever a property is let to five or more people forming two or more households.
Does Walsall have an additional HMO licensing scheme?
Yes. Walsall operates an additional HMO licensing scheme. Letting a property covered by it without a licence risks a civil penalty of up to £30,000, a rent repayment order of up to twelve months' rent, and the loss of the right to serve a section 21 notice.
Do I need an HMO licence in Walsall?
A mandatory HMO licence is required anywhere in England and Wales, including Walsall, where a property is let to five or more people forming two or more households who share basic amenities. Smaller shared houses may also need a licence where an additional licensing scheme applies.
- Free landlord compliance check — five questions, no account
- Tenancy agreement checker — findings cited to the Act and section
Additional HMO licensing in Walsall: areas, dates and fees →
All property licensing in West Midlands (met county) →
Source: Walsall licensing page →
Every landlord in Walsall also needs
A valid Gas Safety certificate (annual), an EICR (every 5 years), a valid EPC, a protected deposit, smoke & CO alarms, the Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet, and a current How to Rent guide — plus the new Section 8 possession rules since Section 21 was abolished on 1 May 2026.
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