Perfect house but think next door is a HMO!

[jentt]

Found the perfect house for us BUT I think the next door neighbour(s) is a HMO property. There were multiple men standing outside chatting then they all went back inside, not sure if they were just visitors but it also has a large driveway with multiple cars. We have young children so the last thing I want is to be living next to a HMO. Other than knocking on their door is there any way I can find out for sure? Would be gutted if it is because the house is perfect.

You can check on the council portal if they have an HMO licence. Alternatively can check the electoral records.

Hmos aren't necessarily an issue in themselves.. It depends who is living there. Young professionals are generally pretty fine. 90-95% of students are fine.

The house next door to me was an HMO and they were the quietest neighbours I ever had.
5 people with jobs, two had cars ( unlike the family opposite with 7 cars).
It's not always as the media portray it.

Why would an HMO property be a problem? Like an HMO of professionals that are hardly ever home sounds better than a house full of screaming kids...

They won’t have noisy kids or dogs, they are mostly confined to their rooms and most will want privacy themselves, if one makes noise then the other occupants will quickly complain, they might smoke in the garden possibly but any neighbour could do that.

Drive by a couple of times before and after your viewing.

You are right to be wary. It might be fine, full of professionals etc, but it also might be full of anti social (usually men) tenants who have been evicted from their private rent or council tenancies & have been put there instead as they have to live somewhere.

Many landlords near us happily take these 'problem' tenants as they can charge them the full local housing allowance per room & generally not bother with keeping the property up together as the tenant's don't care which makes it cheaper for them.

The landlords also don't live near by so couldn't care less if they cause issues in the neighbourhood as they are only in it for the money.

Definitely contact your council & ask if they are able to tell you the HMOs in their area.

The houses lived in by multiple men near me are usually the quietest. Apart from the smoking on the doorstep they are pretty invisible!

Unlike the bastard new monies who extend their houses, roofs, build on every square inch... then park their massive chav mobiles all down the street (Im so bitter... so so bitter... god I hate my neighbours)

What is HMO??

If you’re serious about the house, I would just knock next door and just frame it as you’re interested in moving into the area and he just wanted to find out what they think. Whoever answers the door, you can ask them. Surely if it’s a HMO, there may be more than one doorbell? Could you ask the estate agent? Wouldn’t the owner of the house you want? Have to declare it to you if you asked?

I'd drive by at night esp weekends to try suss them out. They could be fine but on other hand like a party. Tbh even people you would assume considerate aren't trust me.

We had an unlicensed HMO near us. Used as staff quarters.

It was unlicensed as it didn't meet the requirements locally of 5 unrelated adults.

Four staff members lived there, all fine except for the parking. Too many cars, too small a space, staff and landlord who didn't care. It breached the properties covenant.

Became dangerous and very obstructive.

The neighbours might be okay at the moment but it’s who moves in next

House in multiple occupancy.
A house shared by at least three different people or families who aren't related.

There's HMOs and HMOs. The house next door to us was one when we moved in (now a family home) and I didn't give it a second thought. The tenants seemed to be mainly young men from Eastern Europe working in the trades who were quiet and respectable, it was also well looked after and not overcrowded. If it seems quiet and orderly and the residents seem to be working people and not drifters, I don't see the issue.

I did worry a little when it went on the market, as I feared it could be taken over by a less scrupulous HMO owner who might try to pack more rooms in, not care about who the residents were, or not look after the place - which is what happens with some HMOs, as has been mentioned. But it was bought by a family in the end. There are a couple of other HMOs on our street and they are also fine.

I would try asking neighbours what their impressions are if you are worried.

I think you need to consider what would happen when/if you want to sell the house.
If you are having doubts due to the HMO so will others

We have a HMO opposite. No problem when it was about 4 or 5 trainee pilots who didn't have any cars, were out loads at work/training, never heard a peep etc.

It's now home to an indeterminate number of people. They have somewhere between 5-10 cars (or loads of regular visitors) that get parked all over the kerbs on both sides of the road with no hope of a fire engine getting down there. They're quiet, I'll give them that, but the constant bad parking and idling engines can be annoying.

If someone was considering buying near it and knocked on my door, OP, I'd be happy to tell them what I know. Maybe try a neighbour?

Our last house became slowly surrounded by HMO’s only one of them had ‘nice’ tenants in (international students) and they only lived there for a year. The others were a nightmare, noisy, dirty and some were violent.
Having said that one next door was sold by the LL two years before we moved and bought by a family who were just as bad, they had 8 dogs, a son in a heavy metal band who practiced in the house for hours and they just shouted constantly. We sold to a DJ with 5 dogs and 6 kids, they got on like a house on fire!

Hmo can be a nightmare if the occupants are residents which the council class as difficult . They're usually drug users and leave bins overflowing with police called on a regular basis...the council or police wont give a toss

So be warned