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Landlords renting to multiple tenants in West Bromwich will need to apply for a licence after a scheme was approved.

This will apply to areas around the high street and the centre of West Bromwich, and follows a 12-week consultation between January and April last year.

Landlords of all HMOs will need to apply for a five-year licence costing £850 regardless of how many people are living there.

Previously only large HMOs with more than five tenants required a licence from the council.

The scheme will be introduced in April 2022, with a three-month grace period for landlords.

The council will start enforcement for unlicensed premises from 1 July 2022.

Councillor Zahoor Ahmed, Sandwell’s cabinet member for housing, said: “We want to improve housing conditions and make sure that landlords are providing good quality and safe HMOs, so that tenants are protected.

“While we know that many already do this, there are still too many properties that are poorly managed and are in unsafe and unsatisfactory conditions.”

“A new approach is needed and we believe that the Additional Licensing Scheme will improve the condition of properties, support good landlords and remove rogue landlords from operating.”

When consulting on the plans 77% agreed with the proposals.