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 GreenAlum Rock
AstonBalsall Heath
BirchfieldBordesley Green
Bordesley & HighgateBournebrook & Selly Park
EdgbastonGravelly Hill
HandsworthHeartlands
LadywoodLozells
North EdgbastonSmall Heath
Soho & Jewellery QuarterSouth Yardley
Sparkbrook & Balsall HeathSparkhill
Stockland GreenTyseley & Hay Mills
Ward EndWest 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

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