4 Tips for Addressing Common Landlord Challenges for HMO Properties

Although managing HMO properties presents unique challenges for landlords and property managers, a few industry tips and best practices can help you navigate these potential hurdles successfully.

Establish Clear Rules and Guidelines for Tenants

Shared living spaces can lead to disputes and conflicts among tenants if expectations aren't clear. This can sometimes happen when specific house rules are not conveyed to each new tenant when moving in, such as standards for cleanliness, upkeep and other responsibilities.

In some cases, such as with student blocks for undergraduates, tenants will be renting a property and living alone away from parents for the first time and may not know what is expected from them.

One easy way to mitigate against this is to establish clear rules from the outset covering everything from how tenants are expected to treat and look after appliances, to any rules that might relate to Common areas or shared facilities.

Fit for Purpose Tenant Screening Process

A fit-for-purpose tenant screening process in the UK rental market involves transparent and consistent criteria applied to all applicants, ensuring fairness and compliance with anti-discrimination laws.

This process typically includes assessing applicants based on their rental history, income verification, and references, with a focus on objective factors rather than subjective judgments.

It is helpful to communicate the screening criteria clearly to all applicants and consistently apply them to everyone. The right approach here can contribute to a more stable tenant base, potentially reduced turnover and protection from allegations around discrimination in the tenant selection process.

Stay Informed on HMO Regulations

Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in the UK are subject to specific regulations for landlords. These regulations are designed to ensure the safety, well-being, and proper management of properties where three or more unrelated individuals share common facilities.

Key regulations for HMO landlords include standards for amenities and living conditions, and obligations related to fire safety and the prevention of overcrowding.

To stay compliant, it’s important to stay updated on HMO regulations. This might involve coordination with your property management company or keeping an eye on property industry updates and communications from landlord associations.

Regular Property Inspections

With multiple tenants, property maintenance issues can arise frequently and unexpectedly. This is especially the case with large apartment complexes, such as student blocks.

While having a reliable contractor on hand to address issues swiftly helps, it also pays to invest in regular property inspections to identify maintenance needs early on. These inspections, which can be easily carried out using our free periodic inspection software, provide an opportunity to address minor issues before they become major problems.

Our free periodic inspection software and property management tools now come complete with targeted support features for HMOs and student blocks!

Gary, 01 December 2023

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