Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), also referred to as multi-lets or room rentals, have come a long way in the past couple of decades. Once thought of as very much at the bottom of the accommodation pile, with a reputation for being sub-standard, many HMO properties are now just as plush and desirable as the best single household lets and flat shares.

In a HMO, each individual tenant has exclusive use of their own room and then shares kitchen, lounge and laundry facilities with the other tenants, sometimes they will have their own en-suite bathroom and sometimes they will be shared. The property is usually furnished, and bills are generally included within the rent. And while there used to be very different standards for the accommodation, depending on whether the tenants were students, casual workers or young professionals, these days good quality fixtures and furnishings and a high standard of décor are expected across the board.

Having said that, be prepared to be guided by the specific local market demand. In some areas, it’s worth having a boutique hotel feel with en-suites in as many of the rooms as possible to attract the highest-paying tenants, while in other markets where the capital values are lower, a more basic set-up might be the more sensible financial decision.

But generally, here’s what tenants expect:

Decent-sized double bedrooms
With many more freelance workers and employed people working at least part of the time from home, particularly since Covid, most tenants are looking for double-sized rooms. Aim to provide a desk, and make sure there are plenty of sockets for electrical items. Be aware that there are also minimum room sizes for bedrooms, so it’s important to check this with the local authority.