HMO – ensuite vs loo dilemma

HMO – ensuite vs loo dilemma

10:55 AM, 10th June 2014, About 10 years ago 14

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HMO - ensuite vs loo dilemmaI am converting my first house into a HMO. It is a 3 bed, 2 reception, 2 bath house in London… soon to be a 5 bed HMO.

My plan is to add ensuites to the two front bedrooms. This means one tenant is likely to use the large(ish) downstairs bathroom and toilet (on same level) and the final two tenants would share the upstairs bathroom. However, I am now thinking to maximise cash flow, I should turn the upstairs bathroom into an ensuite rather than a shared bathroom. This would then force the last tenant downstairs to the loo in the middle of the night (traipsing through the kitchen).

I would be interested to hear from HMO landlords on risk of void periods/higher turnover on the bedroom upstairs because they need to use the downstairs loo? Am I taking away from Peter to pay Paul so to speak!

The target renters are young professionals… usual mod cons included, high speed broad band, communal TV, cleaner for communal areas, etc.

Cheers

Sondra


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Comments

Sondra McCrohan

21:32 PM, 10th June 2014, About 10 years ago

Hi Lynne

You make a valid point on the 2 non-ensuite bedrooms both being less desireable if I was to make the upstairs an ensuite. I think the best configuration will be to leave as is.

Thanks for the update on council thinking regarding HMOs and separate dwellings for generating more revenue by applying Band A council tax. Something to defintely keep an eye on.

Cheers

Sondra

helena dolisznyj

14:10 PM, 11th June 2014, About 10 years ago

Hi.
What are you putting in each room?
And what are you charging per double room!.
To professionals from local hospital in telford?
Thanks in advance!
H

Jeremy Smith

10:57 AM, 14th June 2014, About 10 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Sondra McCrohan" at "10/06/2014 - 14:24":

Sondra Quote: "hmmm, not really no! Are you suggesting that I would need to reduce the rent on the bedroom that uses the downstairs loo? I guess that is a possibility if the bedroom really was unappealing to most tenants. I would have to balance the loss on that room against the gain on the ensuite room, including higher possibility of voids."

...
Isn't this what gives landlords a bad name: trying to cram in as many as possible, and charging maximum, not even thinking of reducing the rent a bit for the less desirable room. ?
Landlords have the responsibility to try to increase quality of housing for tenants, not make them worse.

IMO, if the council come along again later and reassess the property into 5-6 units for council tax purposes, then you reap the rewards of what you have sown.

How about focussing on quality, not quantity, and keep happy, long term tenants and cashflow, instead of short term with voids and unhappy tenants, which will cost you money, time and stress in the long run.

Sondra McCrohan

19:06 PM, 1st July 2014, About 10 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Jeremy Smith" at "14/06/2014 - 10:57":

Hi Jeremy

I thought this conversation thread was finished, hence my very late reply! Sorry if I have appeared rude, it wasn't my intention.

You make some very valid points and I don't disagree with those. In my defence, I do aim to be a HMO landlady that provides quality accommodation to tenants. I'm not greedy, just learning my new trade... this is my first HMO. It is a big refurb job and I want to be sure I make the most of it from a business perspective whilst not compromising on quality for the tenants. I was actually thinking that an ensuite for one extra bedroom would be lovely for that tenant and me with the extra income.

You will be happy to know, I took the sound advice provided by the people who replied and no one needs to trek to the downstairs loo in the middle of the night!

Thanks for your reply.

Cheers

Sondra

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