10/06/2026
HMOs are here to stay.
With higher taxes, higher food shops and younger people unable to get on the property ladder but don’t want to move back in with their parents, HMOs are the stop gap for this.
But a new wave of HMOs are coming through with gyms and spas, state of the art cinemas and social activities for its residents making them a go to for younger people.
As a Chartered Architectural Technologist who has worked on over 350 HMOs since 2010, I’ve witnessed a wide range of properties – from those I wouldn’t let my dogs near to exceptional ones that I’d happily move into tomorrow.
Every time I submit a planning application, I see the same objections time and time again - it’s for the ‘boat people’, it will bring the area down or the crime rate will go up.
However, well-designed and managed HMOs are an essential property type, especially with the current cost-of-living crisis.
Having all-inclusive bills for less than the cost of a one-bedroom apartment’s rent alone and living with your friends is a no brainer for graduates and young professionals.
