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Property Licensing Guide for Sandwell
Sandwell currently operates additional licensing in 24 wards; mandatory HMO licensing applies everywhere. Last checked: 20 October 2026.
This free guide will provide you with the key details regarding what licensing requirements are necessary in this area and how to apply for a licence.
Sandwell is in the West Midlands registration window for the PRS database, which opens on 15 December 2026: see how the West Midlands registration window affects letting agents.
Sandwell Property Licensing Schemes
To check whether a Sandwell HMO is licensed, ask the council for its HMO licence register. Sandwell Council must keep a register of licensed houses under section 232 of the Housing Act 2004.
Is manual compliance causing a headache for your agency? At Kamma, we specialise in automating licensing compliance for agents across the UK. If you need any assistance in getting your property portfolio compliant, find out how we can help letting agents here.
Not sure whether a Sandwell property needs a licence? Kamma's free checker covers selective, additional and HMO schemes.
Check a Sandwell property →What are the licensing requirements for Sandwell?
Mandatory licensing in Sandwell
Mandatory HMO licensing applies across Sandwell (and all of England) to larger HMOs. These are properties occupied by five or more people forming more than one household, including:
- Shared houses and flats occupied by students and young professionals.
- Properties converted into bedsits with some shared facilities.
- Properties converted into a mix of self-contained and non-self-contained accommodation.
Do I need an additional property licence in Sandwell?
Additional licensing requires smaller HMOs in a designated area to be licensed. That means a privately rented property with three or more people forming more than one household.
Sandwell operates additional HMO licensing. The current designation is set out below.
Do I need a selective licence in Sandwell?
Selective licensing requires almost all privately rented properties in a designated area to be licensed, regardless of the number of occupants.
Sandwell does not currently operate a selective licensing scheme.
Additional licensing: 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2029, covering Abbey, Blackheath, Bristnall, Charlemont with Grove Vale, Cradley Heath and Old Hill, Friar Park, Great Barr with Yew Tree, Great Bridge, Greets Green and Lyng, Hateley Heath, Langley, Newton, Old Warley, Oldbury, Princes End, Rowley, Smethwick, Soho and Victoria, St Pauls, Tipton Green, Tividale, Wednesbury North, Wednesbury South and West Bromwich Central.
Mandatory HMO licensing: in force since 2006 for HMOs of five or more people forming more than one household.
How do I apply for a licence?
You can apply for a licence via Sandwell Council’s website here. Or let Kamma’s expert team process the application for you.
How much does a licence cost?
Licence fees
| Licence | Fee |
|---|---|
| Additional HMO licence | £1,021 per property |
| Mandatory HMO licence | £1,021 per property |
Fees as published by the council, verified 20 July 2026; subject to change. See the council’s fee page for full schedules, payment stages and discounts.
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Sandwell Property Licensing FAQs
What licensing schemes does Sandwell operate?
Sandwell Council operates borough-wide additional HMO licensing from 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2029, alongside the national mandatory HMO scheme. Sandwell has no selective licensing scheme. The scheme details are set out above.
Do all properties in Sandwell need a licence?
No. Sandwell has no selective licensing, so only HMOs need a licence. An HMO of three or four people needs an additional licence under the scheme running from 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2029. An HMO of five or more people needs a mandatory licence.
What if my property doesn't have a licence?
Operating a Sandwell HMO that requires a licence without one can bring civil penalties of up to £40,000 per property. The landlord also risks a rent repayment order of up to 24 months’ rent. A letting agent who manages the property or collects the rent commits the offence too and can be fined separately.
Can letting agents apply on behalf of landlords?
Yes. Letting agents can apply for HMO licences on behalf of landlords in Sandwell. The council’s fee page says the owner or the agent letting the property must get the licence, and many agents manage the full application.
How do I apply for a Sandwell property licence?
You apply for a Sandwell HMO licence through the council’s online portal, which needs a MySandwell account. The council’s additional licensing pages set out the process, or you can use a managed service such as Kamma.
Does Sandwell have selective licensing?
No. Sandwell Council does not operate a selective licensing scheme. Its borough-wide additional licensing scheme began on 1 October 2024 and covers small HMOs.
Why did Sandwell introduce additional licensing?
Sandwell Council consulted on additional licensing from 8 January to 18 March 2024. The council states the consultation addressed poor property management, anti-social behaviour and substandard conditions affecting residents and council resources. The scheme began on 1 October 2024.
What are the conditions to obtain an HMO licence in Sandwell?
Sandwell’s additional licensing scheme, running from 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2029, requires HMOs to meet the council’s standards for fire safety, amenities, room sizes and management (council’s HMO standards guide).
About Sandwell
Sandwell is a metropolitan borough in the West Midlands with 24 wards. Its towns include Wednesbury, West Bromwich, Cradley Heath, Smethwick and Oldbury. The council’s additional licensing scheme covers the whole borough. The council consulted from 8 January to 18 March 2024, approved the scheme on 19 June 2024, and began it on 1 October 2024.
The scheme applies to small HMOs, where three or four people share amenities. Larger HMOs of five or more people in two or more households need a mandatory licence across England.
Licensing Enforcement in Sandwell
Sandwell Council enforces property licensing across its schemes. Letting a property without the required licence risks prosecution and civil penalties of up to £40,000 per property. The landlord can also face a rent repayment order of up to 24 months’ rent. Where a letting agent manages the property or collects the rent, the agent commits the offence too and can be fined in its own right.
