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Following Slough and Nottingham in the UK, Birmingham City Council (BCC) is now implementing a Selective Licensing Program for Landlords that began on June 5, 2023.
What exactly is selective licensing?
All private landlords in a designated area are required to have a license in order to rent out a privately rented property under a selective licensing scheme. The plan aims to improve the quality of homes available in the private rental market, and will give tenants confidence that houses and flats in a designated area will be healthy and safe to live in.
How to get a permit:
Applications can be made through Birmingham City Council’s website. To apply for a selective license, you will need the following items:
- Name and contact details of anyone with an interest in the property – this could include the owner, freeholder or mortgage company
- The date of birth of the person who will be the licence holder
- Measurements of all the rooms in square metres along with their position in the property – for example, ground floor left, first floor front right
- The current electricity installation inspection and test certificate
- The most recent gas safety certificate (if applicable)
- A debit or credit card to pay the licence fee
How much will it cost?
Each licence will cost £700 per property.
What happens when a property lacks a license?
If your property does not have a license, Landlords could be subject to a range of enforcement actions including court action which may result in
- an unlimited financial penalty
- having to surrender the unlicensed property to Birmingham City Council.
Are there exemptions?
You won’t need a selective licence if your property is:
- licensed as an HMO
- managed directly by an educational establishment
- let by a registered social landlord such as a housing association
Where Selective Licensing will be implemented:
A selective licensing program covering 25 of Birmingham’s 69 wards was approved by the Department of Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities. The wards are listed below:
| Acocks Green | Alum Rock |
| Aston | Balsall Heath |
| Birchfield | Bordesley Green |
| Bordesley & Highgate | Bournebrook & Selly Park |
| Edgbaston | Gravelly Hill |
| Handsworth | Heartlands |
| Ladywood | Lozells |
| North Edgbaston | Small Heath |
| Soho & Jewellery Quarter | South Yardley |
| Sparkbrook & Balsall Heath | Sparkhill |
| Stockland Green | Tyseley & Hay Mills |
| Ward End | West Holyhead |
| Yardley & West Stechford |
BCC will start to enforce the new scheme from 4 September 2023. This should give landlords time to apply for a licence.
For further details please visit Birmingham City Council website
Our dedicated team are at hand to help with any queries you may have about Birmingham City Council’s Selective Licensing Scheme:
enquiries@astonknowles.com
0121 362 7878
