The selective licensing scheme will cover single household PRS properties in 25 of the city's wards and the additional licensing scheme will cover all smaller HMO properties (3 to 4 occupants) in the city.

The council says its online application platform launched 3 weeks ahead of schedule on 2nd May and that this is an opportunity for landlords and agents to start making their licence applications now before the schemes go live.

In answer to concerns raised by landlords that some agents were charging £250 plus VAT to process licence applications on behalf of landlords, the council says that the platform is simple and straightforward enough to use that "specialist assistance" from a paid third party is unnecessary.

Cllr. Sharon Thompson, Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness, is quoted in BirminghamLive as saying "I would urge landlords to familiarise themselves with the licensing schemes to make sure they don't fall foul of the new requirements". She also noted that the council will be putting on a virtual training session for applicants at 5pm on 24th May. The session will cover the application process and provide more information about both the new licensing schemes.

The fee for a selective licence is £700 and the fee for an additional licence is £755 and the council will start to enforce both schemes from 4th September 2023.

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