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Landlords reassured over HMO licensing

15/04/2008

Buy-to-let landlords in Manchester should not be deterred by the high number of so-called Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), according to the Association of Residential Lettings Agents (Arla).

An HMO, which requires a licence from the council, is an entire house or flat which is let to three or more tenants who form two or more households and who share a kitchen, toilet or bathroom.

Amateur landlords with a Manchester property usually own smaller and less demanding properties and are therefore not affected if HMO licensing is restricted in some areas as has been suggested by the government, said Arla.

Malcolm Harrison, spokesperson for Arla, said: "HMOs are very much for the professional end of the market, it's not for typical buy-to-let investment.

"A typical buy-to-let investor doesn't want to go through all of the hoops that you have to go through to get an HMO - it's much more for the professional."

A government review aimed at improving the management and conditions of people living in HMOs was launched by housing minister Caroline Flint earlier this month.