Students and young professionals rent HMOs because they may not have the financial means to rent an entire property and can't move in with their partner. Although renting a room is cheaper than renting an entire property, the total rent for all rooms is often more than what could be charged to one family. An HMO can provide a landlord with a better rental income.
HMO landlords often pay the utility bills of the property unless it has been converted into flats with separate title deeds from the land registry.
There are a small number of UK specialists who will lend on large HMO property and understand the risks associated with multiple tenants. They each have their own definitions for HMOs and what they will lend against. A broker can help you create your application and match you up with the right broker. CMB is an experienced broker who can package your application in a way that suits the lender. This speeds up the entire application process.
Students: You can have your rent guaranteed (often by your parents) and usually have an automatic limit to the length their tenancy.
HMOs must have a valid five-year license from the local authority where the property is situated. It is important to ask the relevant local authority about the policy regarding your area of interest. A licence is required for properties with less than five tenants. Because it is dependent on the location, you will have the best chance of submitting your application.
HMO Values - The methods used by lenders to value properties can vary. Lenders can use traditional surveyor inspections, and compare it to similar properties in the area. If there is no HMO in the area then the valuation will take into account the value achieved as though it were a single family. However, this doesn't account of the extra income HMOs usually attract by having multiple rental earnings, which can limit your ability to borrow.
Buy-to-let mortgages can be cheaper in terms rate and fees than traditional loans and are offered by more lenders. These mortgages are also easier to obtain because the criteria for approval is not as strict. The additional profits that an HMO can make often offset additional mortgage costs.