Additional HMO licensing in Walsall

What the designation says

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.

What this means for a landlord

A licence must be in place before the property is let, not applied for afterwards. Operating unlicensed in a designated area is a criminal offence: a civil penalty of up to £30,000 per offence, a rent repayment order of up to twelve months' rent, and a section 21 notice that cannot be served while the property is unlicensed. Mandatory HMO licensing applies separately and everywhere, wherever a property is let to five or more people forming two or more households.

Walsall's own licensing page →