What are the costs of running a HMO?

Asked by: Travon Ferry  |  Last update: January 19, 2023
Score: 4.7/5 (27 votes)

On average, landlords with HMOs spend around 30% of their gross rental income running and maintaining them, compared to the 23% of income spent by those running and maintaining non-HMO properties. Estimated expenditure on HMOs and non-HMOs has increased year-on-year, by around 4%pts and 3%pts respectively.

Is an HMO a good idea?

The advantages of HMO plans compared with PPO plans make them a popular choice if you're budget-conscious or if you don't anticipate many doctor visits. Lower monthly premiums and generally lower out-of-pocket costs. Generally lower out-of-pocket costs for prescriptions.

How much is a HMO Licence UK?

The standard HMO licence fee is £1,100,split into two payments. For larger HMOs with more than ten units of accommodation the fee is increased by an extra £50 for each additional unit of accommodation in excess of ten. NB For very large HMOs there is a maximum fee of £6,000.

Who pays the bills in a HMO?

Who pays for utilities in my HMO? If you are renting each room out, it may be easier for you to keep the utilities in your name and include the cost in the tenants' rent. If there is a group living in the property on one contract, they would most often pay the utility bills separately to the rent.

Who is responsible for utility bills in HMO?

Gas and Electricity for HMOs and Lodgers

Because of this, HMO properties frequently divide the energy bills between all tenants, with one acting as the responsible person to measure and collect payment from the others. If this is the case, make sure that every tenant's name is registered with the energy supplier.

How much it costs to set up and run an HMO

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Do you need planning permission for HMO?

The good news, then, is that you generally don't need planning permission when converting from a dwelling house or flat to an HMO property, which is a small shared house of up to six unrelated individuals.

Who is exempt from HMO licensing?

The exemptions include: Two persons – any building occupied by only two persons in two households. A property where the landlord and their household lives with up to two lodgers. Buildings occupied entirely by freeholders or long leaseholders (or 2/3rd occupied in the case of a section 257 HMO)

What are HMO requirements?

Your property is defined as a large HMO if all of the following apply: it is rented to 5 or more people who form more than 1 household. some or all tenants share toilet, bathroom or kitchen facilities. at least 1 tenant pays rent (or their employer pays it for them)

What is the downside of HMO?

In an HMO there are some disadvantages. The premium that is paid is just enough to cover the costs of doctors in the network. The members are “stuck” to a primary care physician and if managed care plans change, then the member may not be able to continue with the same PCP.

What is wrong with HMOs?

Complaints include difficulty getting access to medical specialists, problems with emergency care, and excessive red tape when trying to file grievances or appeals. Some of that public indignation is spilling into the political arena -- leading to calls for tighter regulation of HMOs.

What are the pros and cons of HMO?

HMOs Offer Lower Cost Healthcare
  • PPOs typically have a higher deductible than an HMO.
  • Co-pays and co-insurance are common with PPOs.
  • Out-of-network treatment is typically more expensive than in-network care.
  • The cost of out-of-network treatment might not count towards your deductible.

How many bathrooms does a HMO need?

Health and Safety. Health and safety regulation for an HMO typically requires one bathroom for every four tenants. If you have five tenants you will probably need to supply separate toilets from the main bathroom in the main bathroom suite.

How many kitchens does a HMO need?

3.2.1 Ratio of persons to facilities

For shared kitchens, one set of kitchen facilities shall be provided for every 5 occupants.

Do HMOs need a lounge?

Should you Provide a Communal Lounge in your HMO (Our Answer is Yes). With HMOs, the issue of communal spaces comes up a lot.

Can you live in your own HMO?

It's a common misconception that the HMO regulations only apply to flatshares where the landlord doesn't live in the property – it's perfectly possible to have an HMO as a live in landlord too.

Do couples count as one household HMO?

Couples married to each other or living together as husband and wife (or in an equivalent relationship in the case of persons of the same sex) Relatives living together, including parents, grandparents, children (and step-children), grandchildren, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces or cousins.

Can a HMO licence be refused?

The Council can refuse to licence the HMO if the property does not meet the conditions above, or the licence applicant is not a fit and proper person to hold the licence. If a licence is refused the council could issue an Interim Management Order which allows it to manage the property for up to a year.

Can any house be a HMO?

If your property is let to five or more tenants from more than one household, some or all of the tenants share toilet, bathroom or kitchen facilities and at least one tenant pays rent, then your property will be considered as a large HMO and will need a licence.

Do HMOs need building regulations?

Planning permission is required for some HMOS regardless of whether or not works are being carried out.

What is a C4 HMO?

C4 Use Class - Houses in multiple occupation (HMO)

The C4 use class refers to small houses which are used by between 3 and 6 unrelated residents as a house for multiple occupation (or HMO) where they share basic amenities such as kitchen or bathrooms and use it as their only (or main) residence.

Is landlord responsible for electricity meter?

Typically, a landlord will have the electricity in their name, before they have a tenant; that is, the landlord will be paying for electricity in an empty unit.

Can landlord charge me for electricity?

There's no limit on how much rent in advance a landlord can ask for but it's illegal to disguise extra fees by calling it rent in advance. Your landlord can still charge you gas, electricity and water if they provide these. They cannot charge you more than they pay the supplier.

When you rent What bills do you pay?

Rent. Fuel bills (gas, electricity and water) TV and Media Services. Telephone costs, line rental charges and internet.

Do you need fire doors in a HMO?

If your property is an HMO – a House in Multiple Occupation – then yes, fire doors are legally required in your HMO property. HMOs are usually properties occupied by three or more tenants from two or more different households.