The complete guide for HMO landlords in the UK (Benefits, Challenges & How-To)
04.04.2023
8 min read
25.01.2023
7 min read
HMOs (Houses in Multiple Occupancy) can be a lucrative investment for UK landlords, but there are pros and cons to consider. This guide explores everything you need to know about becoming an HMO landlord in the UK, including the benefits, challenges, and steps involved.
An HMO is a property rented out by multiple individual tenants. Student lets are a common example. Each tenant or related group within the property is considered a separate “household.” For example, in a HMO flatshare where two couples rent a room each, each couple is classed as a ‘household’ within the property.
HMO landlords have extra responsibilities compared to landlords of standard properties. This is because HMO tenants face a different set of risks than those living alone or solely with family. For example, a property that’s let to multiple individual tenants is at a greater risk of a fire breaking out. For this reason, there are certain rules and regulations in place to keep HMO tenants safe.
HMO licence requirements in the UK
If your property is let to five or more ‘households’ where some communal appliances are shared, an HMO licence is required. Local authorities may require a licence for fewer households, so always check with them first. Read on for more information on how to get an HMO licence.
HMO health and safety regulations in the UK
Beyond the standard landlord health and safety requirements around gas, fire and electricity, HMO landlords have some additional responsibilities. These can differ depending on the area’s local authority. But it’s likely you’ll need to do things like:
To ensure you meet Health and Safety rules for a HMO you must comply with the Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006. This means that you will have to:
Overcrowding
HMO licencing rules were updated in 2018 to help prevent overcrowding in shared properties. These rules dictate the HMO minimum room sizes in the UK.
The new rules state that the floor area of any sleeping accommodation used by one person over 10 years old is at least 6.51 square metres, and 4.64 square metres for one person under 10 years old.
Each type of HMO licence also has its own specific occupancy limits room.
Investing in HMO properties can be a great property investment strategy in itself, or as part of a wider portfolio. But it’s important to consider the challenges of being an HMO landlord before making any decisions. Let’s take a look:
Getting a HMO licence
Getting a HMO licence can be complicated and time consuming, as the local council will need to consider lots of different angles to make sure the property is suitable for multiple occupancies.
The HMO licence application in the UK can take a few months and there can be costs involved too; how much will depend on the local council.
There’s no guarantee that you’ll be given an HMO licence – so there’s that to bear in mind, too.
However, if you’re willing to do the initial legwork, obtaining an HMO licence helps show prospective tenants you take their welfare seriously, and can lead to financial gains that make the process worthwhile.
The extra rules and regulations
Adhering to the extra rules and regulations involved in being an HMO landlord can be time consuming.
In a nutshell: there’s quite a bit more compliance involved with HMO properties, and there’s more action needed from you as a landlord than with standard properties. Whether you’re willing to take this on will depend on whether you think the financial gains are worth it.
Managing your rental income and expenses
There’s more financial admin involved with renting out HMO properties than standard lets. Having multiple tenancies within one property means you’ll have to manage profit & loss (P&L) statements and income & expenses for each ‘household’ within the property. And collecting rent from each individual ‘household’ can also present more work.
The good news is – there’s tech available to help with HMO property accounting. For example, Hammock gives you separate P&L statements for each household within your HMO. And you also get a full breakdown of each household as if it were its own separate property. So you can reconcile payments and manage expenses for individual rooms with minimal fuss.
We’ve designed our platform this way (built for landlords by landlords, by the way 😌) because we know how complex property finances can get. This may be even truer of HMO properties – but it doesn’t have to be when you’re armed with the right tools.
Securing lending
It can be trickier to secure an HMO mortgage than one for a standard Buy to let property. Many lenders will want to see that you’ve got a proven track record as a single occupancy landlord, for example. Mortgage interest rates tend to be higher for HMOs than standard properties, too, and you’ll likely need a bigger deposit.
Higher set-up costs
Investing in a HMO property often means outlying more money at the start of your investment journey. This is because you’ll need to make various adjustments to the property to make sure it complies with the local authority’s HMO regulations.
Managing multiple tenants/households
There are some downsides to renting to multiple households within one property. Wear and tear is usually higher, for example, meaning it’s likely there’ll be more maintenance to carry out.
HMO tenancies may be shorter than tenancies for, say, a settled family in a single occupancy property. So tenancy turnover might be higher in an HMO. But the higher rental yield you get from a HMO could outweigh these issues.
To become an HMO landlord you’ll need to find a property that you think is suitable and determine whether you’ll need an HMO licence. You can do this by contacting the local authority of the area the property’s located.
Apply to your local authority for the appropriate HMO licence.
The cost of HMO licences varies depending on the local authority. They can range from about £400 to around £1200.
You’ll then need to make the appropriate renovations and changes to the property to make it HMO-compliant.
To convert a property into an HMO you may need to:
You may also think about converting certain spaces into rentable bedrooms – for example, the property’s current living room or garage. But it’s important to note some tenants might not find the prospect of renting a property with no living space appealing.
If you’re thinking of investing in an HMO property, Hammock, the accounting platform for landlords, will help you stay organised and efficient. Our solution will help you stay on top of the additional complexities of managing an HMO, from monitoring payments to keeping track of expiring documents. Our platform fully streamlines the process of managing individual tenancies’ P&L statements and income and expenses, and allows you to view a full financial breakdown of each household within your HMO.
