Landlord Licensing Guide

Birmingham City Council has a live landlord licensing scheme

Metropolitan · West Midlands · Last researched 2026-08-28

Selective licensing in Birmingham City Council

🔴 IS LIVE NOW

Birmingham Selective Licensing Scheme (25 wards); runs 2023-06-05 to 2028-06-04; coverage: partial; fee: £700 (Licence per property (up to 5 years))

Designated areas: Acocks Green, Alum Rock, Aston, Balsall Heath West, Birchfield, Bordesley Green, Bordesley and Highgate, Bournbrook and Selly Park, Edgbaston, Gravelly Hill, Handsworth, Heartlands (+13 more). Partial-coverage schemes only apply on specific streets — check the council's own boundary map for your exact address.

High confidence — verified on the council's own site. Sources: https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/info/20175/private_housing/2649/selective_licensing · https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/news/article/1093/ · https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/24082/notice_of_designation_of_an_area_for_selective_licensing.pdf

Additional licensing in Birmingham City Council

⚠ UNVERIFIED

Not confirmed either way on an official page this pass. Confirm directly with Birmingham City Council before letting.

National obligations that apply everywhere in England

These apply regardless of Birmingham City Council's own licensing rules — every England landlord is on the hook for these:

Annual Gas Safety Certificate (CP12) — Any property with gas — unlimited fine and/or imprisonment on conviction if missing.
Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) — Every rental property — a live legal requirement in England since 2020.
Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) — Every rental property — currently rated E or above to be let legally.
Tenancy deposit protection — Any deposit taken — must be protected in a government-approved scheme within 30 days.
Right to Rent checks — Every tenant — landlords must verify immigration status before letting.
PRS Landlord Database registration — Phasing in nationally 2026–2028 under the Renters' Rights Act — a new, separate requirement from council licensing.

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Related guides

Information, not legal advice. Compiled from public sources on 2026-08-28; licensing schemes change on a weeks-to-months cadence, not annually, so always confirm directly with Birmingham City Council before relying on this for a real letting decision. Overall confidence for this page: high.