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Strict council · 2 HMO directions · borough/city-wide

Opening an HMO in Birmingham: the Article 4 guide

Birmingham City Council scores 7 on our strictness scale (2 HMO directions (C3→C4 right removed); HMO direction described as borough/city/town-wide; 11 householder rights also removed (extensions, roofs, exterior)). Below: every HMO Article 4 area it has published, when each came into force, which categories of right the council has removed across all its areas, and an outline of the planning route. Live from planning.data.gov.uk — indicative, verify with the council.

HMO areas
2
All Article 4 areas
13
Latest HMO direction
2014-08-31

1. Where — the HMO Article 4 areas

One direction is described as covering the whole borough/city — assume every residential address is inside unless the council confirms otherwise.

  1. CITY WIDE HMO
    In force not stated · published to the platform 2025-05-15
  2. SELLY OAK HMO
    In force 2014-08-31 · published to the platform 2024-09-25

Boundaries are polygons — a postcode is a point. The free check tells you whether an address is inside one of these areas; the paid report adds the rights each direction removes, the council reference, the direction document and the full planning route for that address.

Free teaser, no sign-up · Try NE2 2AL (Newcastle HMO Article 4) or SW1A 1AA (Westminster, non-HMO direction)

2. When — timeline

  • undatedCITY WIDE HMO
  • 2014-08-31SELLY OAK HMO

A property already lawfully in C4 use before the relevant date may qualify for a Lawful Development Certificate instead of planning permission (step 3 below).

3. What is removed — all rights across Birmingham's Article 4 areas

  • 3LChange of use: dwellinghouse (C3) to small HMO (C4) — up to 6 unrelated occupiers · 2 areas
  • 1AEnlargement, improvement or alteration of a dwellinghouse (extensions) · 11 areas
  • 1DPorches · 11 areas
  • 1FHard surfaces within the curtilage (driveways) · 11 areas
  • 2CExterior painting · 11 areas
  • 1COther alterations to the roof (rooflights) · 10 areas
  • 2AGates, fences, walls or other means of enclosure · 9 areas
  • 1GChimneys, flues or soil and vent pipes · 8 areas
  • 1EBuildings incidental to the enjoyment of the dwellinghouse (outbuildings, sheds) · 6 areas
  • 1HMicrowave antenna (satellite dishes) · 6 areas
  • 1BAdditions or alterations to the roof (roof extensions, dormers) · 5 areas
  • 31BSchedule 2 Part 31 Class B · 4 areas
  • 2BMeans of access to a highway · 1 area

4. How — the planning route in Birmingham (outline)

Step headings only. The detail and statutory basis for each step, applied to your address, are in the paid report.

  1. 1. Full planning application required for C3 → C4
  2. 2. Check the council's HMO policy before applying
  3. 3. Existing use? Prove it was lawful before the direction
  4. 4. Large HMO (7+ occupiers) is sui generis
  5. 5. Separate: HMO licence
  6. 6. Enforcement exposure
Limits of this guide
  • Coverage depends on each council publishing its Article 4 Directions to planning.data.gov.uk. 'No Article 4 found' means none is published for this point — it does not prove that none exists. Verify with the local planning authority (LPA) before committing money.
  • A postcode is a point, not a building outline. Properties on the boundary of an Article 4 area can fall either side — confirm the exact address with the LPA.
  • Large HMOs (7 or more occupiers, sui generis) always need planning permission, Article 4 or not. Mandatory HMO licensing (Housing Act 2004) is separate from planning and is not checked here.
  • This report is indicative information from published datasets, not legal or planning advice.

Council: https://www.birmingham.gov.uk · Birmingham summary page · All councils, ranked