What is an HMO?

An HMO is a House in Multiple Occupation, a house where the tenants have their own rooms but share some facilities, usually a kitchen and often a bathroom, although increasingly there are HMO rooms available with ensuites or private shower rooms.

The legal definition used by the government is a property where 3 or more people who make up more than one household (ie not related) live and share some facilities
The government then also define a ‘large’ HMO as being one where 5 or more tenants live, forming more than one household and share some facilities. This type of HMO requires a licence from the local council to operate legally.

At Quantum Lettings all the HMOs we manage have an appropriate licence which means as a tenant you can be sure that the house meets safety standards as well as having enough space and facilities to provide a good quality place to live. All our let rooms have lockable doors unlike some we come across and we regularly inspect all shared areas as well as arranging fortnightly cleaning.

We like HMOs as they can provide an affordable way to live in an area for single people (we do have a few rooms licenced for a couple across the city). They can also be a great way to meet people in similar circumstances when you move to a new area. 
They are furnished so can be ideal for someone in a first job, minimising initial expenses. The rent includes all bills, even broadband so it is really simple to move in and easy to budget each month.

They can be great for contractors working in an area for 6 to 12 months before moving on and we find they can really help people coming out of a relationship who need a separate space.

If you are a landlord thinking about investing in HMOs we are happy to advise you of suitable areas and properties and can even arrange work to be done and help with applying for licences. Andy, one of our directors has been involved in hands on HMO conversions since 2010, including design of layouts, rewiring (he was an NICEIC approved contractor for any years) and furnishing. He also owns HMOs within his personal and Ltd company portfolios.