Birmingham landlords who flout the laws on shared housing face tougher penalties after the city council agreed a new scheme to recognise good landlords.

Working with the National Landlord's Association and the local Landlord Forum Steering Group, Birmingham City Council has increased the discounts available on fees to licence Houses in Multiple Occupation.

The city council is required, by law, to operate a licensing scheme for high-risk shared housing, and the fee was increased in April 2012 to reflect the cost of delivering the service, including the investigation of properties which have not been licensed.


After listening to concerns raised by reputable landlords, the City Council has now revised the fee structure to encourage good landlords and penalise those who do not comply with the law.

Members of the Midland Landlord Accreditation Scheme and members of a reputable landlords’ association (such as the National Landlord’s Association or Residential Landlord’s Association) will benefit from increased discounts, since members of those organisations have demonstrated an intention to operate in a professional manner.

(CD)