Highley Parish Council has received a number of enquiries from residents about local house sales and whether any properties are being converted into Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). We want to share some clear information so everyone knows how HMOs are regulated and how you can check or report concerns.

What is an HMO?
A property is classed as an HMO when it is rented to three or more people who form more than one household and share facilities such as a kitchen or bathroom.

Do HMOs need a licence?
Some do.
A property must have an HMO licence if it has:

Five or more residents,

From two or more households,

Sharing facilities.

These licences are issued and enforced only by Shropshire Council, not the Parish Council.

How to check if a property is a licensed HMO
Shropshire Council keeps a public register of all licensed HMOs.
Residents can check whether a property is licensed by visiting the HMO section on the Shropshire Council website or by contacting their Housing Enforcement Team.

Reporting concerns
If you believe a property may be operating as an HMO without a licence, or you have concerns about safety, overcrowding, waste, or anti‑social behaviour, you can report this directly to:

Shropshire Council Housing Enforcement Team
They are responsible for inspections, licensing, and enforcement.

If concerns relate to noise or anti‑social behaviour, these can also be reported to the Police or Shropshire Council’s ASB team.

Why the Parish Council is not notified
Most small HMOs do not require planning permission, so Parish Councils are not statutory consultees and are not informed automatically.
However, we are always here to support residents and can help signpost concerns to the correct Shropshire Council teams.

If you have any questions or would like support in raising an issue, please contact the Parish Council office.

We’ve been made aware that one of the original birch trees at the orchard has been pruned within the last couple of days. While the cuttings have been left on site, which is helpful for the habitat, pruning during a drought isn’t ideal and can place additional stress on the tree.

We’d like to kindly remind everyone that the orchard is a community space, and any tree or sapling management should be carried out through the Parish Council or our volunteer groups. Unauthorised pruning can risk damage to young trees, including the newly planted saplings.

If you have concerns about the trees or feel something needs attention, please get in touch with us so we can arrange appropriate care.

Thank you for helping us look after this shared green space for everyone in the village.