UK Residents Voice Concerns Over Surge in Houses in Multiple Occupation

Long-time residents of Princes Street in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, are expressing growing frustration over a perceived decline in their neighborhood's quality of life, which they attribute to a significant increase in Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). The once-tight-knit community, where neighbors knew each other well, now grapples with issues such as increased noise, parking congestion, overflowing bins, and a general erosion of social cohesion.

Matriarch Cynthia Leveridge, a 47-year resident, described the street's transformation from a quiet, family-friendly area to one plagued by what she termed 'drinking, swearing, shouting, druggin'.' Similar sentiments are echoed by many on the street, who feel that numerous three-bedroom terrace properties, formerly occupied by local families, have been converted into HMOs to maximize landlord profits.

Things came to a head on September 15 when the owners of a property already licensed as an HMO for six tenants applied for permission to increase occupancy to ten. This property, originally a three-bedroom home, had been renovated to include six bedrooms across three floors. The latest plans sought to further retrofit bedrooms to accommodate couples and add hob cookers, with nine wheelie bins proposed for the garden. Residents decried this proposal, with one stating it sounded like a 'hotel, not a home.' The plan was subsequently approved with conditions.

An HMO is officially defined as any property shared by at least three people from more than one household, sharing facilities like a bathroom or kitchen. The surge in demand for shared housing has been attributed, in part, to rising housing costs for single renters and couples. According to data, applications to convert homes into HMOs rose from 41,162 in 2018 to 57,725 in 2024, with an estimated 472,823 HMOs in the UK by 2025.

The government has also utilized HMOs as part of its strategy to house asylum seekers, aiming to reduce costs associated with hotel accommodations. Minister for Housing and Planning, Matthew Pennycook, acknowledged that dispersed accommodation, including HMOs, is an 'important tool' for local authorities. While pledges exist to use larger, more basic accommodation, over 72,000 asylum seekers were living in non-hotel accommodations, including HMOs, in 2023. This placement represents a significant annual cost of over £4 billion to support asylum seekers, a portion of which benefits private HMO landlords.

Local authorities are beginning to react. Breckland District Council in Norfolk recently implemented measures to make it more difficult to convert homes into HMOs after government officials indicated a desire to move asylum seekers into such properties in the area.

On Princes Street, official figures from Mansfield Council indicate only three licensed HMOs, pertaining to 'large HMOs' housing five or more tenants. However, residents and some council officials believe the actual number is significantly higher, as properties with fewer than five occupants do not require a license, and the council does not track these. Arthur, a 36-year-old renter on the street, stated, 'There are definitely more than they're saying,' attributing this to a lack of licensing or enforcement.

Properties on Princes Street have seen a 36% increase in value over the last year, with average prices now around £143,000 for terraced homes and £181,000 for semi-detached properties. The street's proximity to Nottingham University and local hospitals makes it attractive to students and NHS workers, according to Arthur.

Residents have reported issues ranging from pavement parking and noise to overflowing bins, making bin collection difficult. The street's character has changed, with former residents lamenting the loss of a community where neighbors assisted each other. The transient nature of HMO occupants means that the once-familiar sense of community has largely disappeared.

Local MP Steve Yemm has voiced support for Mansfield Council to consider an 'Article 4 Direction.' This measure would require all HMO conversions to obtain a license, granting the council greater control to block new HMOs and manage their concentration. Yemm stated that residents' concerns about parking, bins, and community cohesion have been ignored, and while HMOs have a role in housing needs, their clustering in certain areas has become detrimental.

A Mansfield Council spokesperson acknowledged resident concerns and confirmed a review of HMO numbers, distribution, and trends across the district is underway. The council is considering available planning powers, including the appropriateness of an Article 4 direction, emphasizing that any decision would be evidence-based and consider local circumstances.

For many on Princes Street, however, any potential action may come too late. The ongoing conversions and increasing number of HMOs continue to transform the street, leading to a sense of detachment and a loss of the community spirit that once defined it.