Walsall Council has moved to widen scrutiny of Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs) across the borough by ordering a review of three further wards and tightening local enforcement procedures. Members backed a Notice of Motion from Reform group cabinet members Councillor Stuart Chapman and Councillor Peter Harrison calling for changes to the planning and enforcement approach to HMOs.
Which areas will be assessed?
Councillors agreed that officers should begin reviewing the following wards to determine whether additional HMO licensing schemes should be introduced:
- Willenhall
- Darlaston South
- Bentley and Darlaston North
Officers have been given eight weeks to report back to cabinet with their findings.
Enforcement and planning decisions
Alongside the ward reviews, members voted to visit every property where there has been a validated report of an unauthorised HMO. The council will contact the person who reported the complaint within 10 working days of the visit to advise on next steps.
Councillors also resolved that all planning applications relating to HMOs will continue to be determined by the planning committee for the time being. The council’s monitoring officer confirmed this arrangement will remain in place only until national planning reforms, introduced by the Labour government, take effect in October—after which HMO applications will be more than likely decided by officers rather than by committee.
Why councillors backed the motion
Speakers from across the chamber supported the motion. Labour councillor Simran Cheema, who represents Willenhall, described long-standing local concern about the scale of HMOs in her ward:
"As the Willenhall ward councillor many of you will be aware that I've long-been leading a campaign against HMOs in Willenhall as it feels like it's fast becoming the HMO capital of Walsall. These issues have a real impact on neighbours and the wider community. And one of the biggest frustrations that I have is the length of time it takes to hear back from planning enforcement about cases raised."
Conservative group leader Councillor Adrian Andrew acknowledged the role of HMOs in the wider housing sector but criticised the management of some properties in the borough.
Current and proposed review areas
| Existing additional HMO licensing | Wards to be assessed |
|---|---|
| Palfrey and the Delves; St Matthew's; Paddock; Pleck | Willenhall; Darlaston South; Bentley and Darlaston North |
The decision means an immediate increase in scrutiny of reported unauthorised HMOs and a formal review process that could lead to further licensing requirements in areas judged to have concentrations of HMOs that warrant intervention.
For residents and landlords, the key practical points are the planned property visits following validated complaints and the forthcoming officer report, due within eight weeks, which will recommend whether the three named wards should be subject to additional licensing. In the short term, planning applications for HMOs will continue to be decided by committee until the national planning reforms are implemented in October.
Further details and any subsequent changes to licensing or enforcement practice will depend on the findings of the officers' report and the council's follow-up decisions.
