IF you have noticed any proposals to convert a property into a House of Multiple Occupation, you will have almost certainly seen a mixed response. 

Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMO) are single properties that have at least three tenants living there, who share a toilet, bathroom, or kitchen facilities.

Using data from property experts Searchland, the BBC reports that the number of licenced HMOs across the north west is higher than ever before, although the number of applications has started to slow down in recent years.

So, as HMOs have become more prevalent and more controversial, the Star will explain a little further about HMOs and their uses.

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Why are properties converted into HMOs?

A application to convert a Brynn Street property into a 5 bed HMO was submitted this monthA application to convert a Brynn Street property into a 5 bed HMO was submitted this month (Image: Google Maps)
More often than not, HMOs are applied for in areas where there is a demand for affordable housing, and they offer cheaper rents to tenants who would otherwise struggle to rent or buy an entire property.

Many people have viewed the rise in HMOs as a result of the cost of living crisis, rental inflation, and the housing crisis more generally.

Although individual rents may be cheaper in a HMO, they are usually more profitable as more people are paying to live inside one property, which suggests why landlords are eager to invest in them.

From a council's perspective, HMOs make an important contribution to housing needs and can help tenants find an affordable property, who would otherwise be on a waiting list with the council or housing association.

HMO policy in St Helens 

A beauty salon in Haydock was recently granted permission to become a six bed HMOA beauty salon in Haydock was recently granted permission to become a six bed HMO (Image: St Helens Council Planning Portal)
In St Helens, the most recent data from the 2021 Census shows that there were 45 small HMOs (6 people or less) and 3 large HMOs (7 people or more) across the borough.

Inevitably, this number will have since increased, with plans to convert properties into HMOs submitted in Haydock, Rainhill, and St Helens in recent months.

In St Helens, planning permission is only required for the conversion of residential properties into HMOs if it will house 7 or more people.

HMOs that will house six people and under do not require formal planning consent from the council, unless it is a commercial property that is being converted rather than a residential home.

However, St Helens Council's Local Plan states that permission will only be granted if it avoids harming the character and appearance of the area, avoids harming the amenities enjoyed by neighbours, and a suitable mix of housing types remains in the area.

Benefits and concerns

Plans to turn the upstairs floors of the Royal Alfred pub into a 12 bed HMO was approved this yearPlans to turn the upstairs floors of the Royal Alfred pub into a 12 bed HMO was approved this year (Image: St Helens Star)

As previously stated, HMOs are often much more affordable for tenants than the private rental market or the housing ladder.

This makes HMOS more attractive to single people, those on low incomes, or those on long waiting lists for council or housing association properties.

Highlighting this point, in response to a recent Star article, Samantha Turner said that living in an HMO is "one of the only affordable ways to live".

Samantha said: "As a single, full time employed person with no dependants earning just over minimum wage, I don’t meet the criteria to get even a sniff at council properties.

"Private renting costs are astronomical and couldn’t make ends meet living by myself."

Another Star reader, Kathryn Colton, also said that the HMO she had lived in was "great" as all her household bills were included in her rental bill, which "made saving for her next step much easier".

HMOs can also improve the quality of disused buildings and other Star readers explained that the HMOs they are aware of cause no problems for neighbours.

A disused shop was granted permission to become a 9 bed HMO on North RoadA disused shop was granted permission to become a 9 bed HMO on North Road (Image: St Helens Council Planning Portal)
Nevertheless, HMOs are clearly controversial as applications frequently attract many objections online as well as negative comments on social media.

As more people are living in a confined space, some residents have raised issues about noise and anti-social behaviour at some HMOs.

Other residents have reported that more rubbish is produced from houses with more residents, without the additional bins to cope, and that there are fewer parking spaces for neighbouring residents.

There are also concerns for tenants if the quality of housing is poor, as they may be living in cramped living quarters, with little privacy and noisy neighbours, as well as possible health hazards because of shared amenities.