0:01 AM, 25th June 2025, About 3 weeks ago 2
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Tenants wanting a shared house with a usable garden will find that will be a challenge in many regions, research reveals.
According to the HMO management platform Coho, only 48.9% of HMO rooms are in homes with a usable garden.
That leaves many tenants without access to private outdoor areas for relaxation or practical tasks like drying laundry.
The North East fares worst, with 22.3% of listings offering garden space, followed by the North West (27%), East Midlands (33%), and Yorkshire & Humber (44.4%).
The firm’s chief executive and founder, Vann Vogstad, said: “It goes without saying that, given the choice, the vast majority of us would choose a home with a usable garden rather than one without.
“It’s not that we’ve all got a passion for horticulture, it’s just nice to know that, when the weather allows, we’ve got a little patch in which to enjoy some fresh air, even more humbly still, somewhere to hang our washing out.”
He added: “Given that 88% of homes in England have a garden, it seems unfair that when it comes to HMO, the proportion of usable garden properties falls as low as 22% in some areas.
“While there are a lot of factors to take in, I think it’s fair to say that housemates deserve better, and that there’s no overriding reason for so few HMOs providing their tenants with outdoor space.”
He went on to say that with HMO standards increasing, the number will change over the coming years, helped by rising tenant expectations.
However, some regions offer better prospects for HMOs with gardens and the East of England tops the list, with 67% of HMO listings boasting usable gardens.
The South West (65.4%), South East (63.7%) and West Midlands (53.2%) also perform strongly.
Even London, despite its urban density, sees 51.9% of its HMO listings with garden access.
The firm‘s research, which is based on current house share listings, highlights disparities including pet-friendliness, parking and bills-included properties.
It found that private parking is scarce, available in just 46.5% of listings nationwide, with the South West leading at 56.8%.
Pet owners face even tougher odds, as only 2.5% of HMOs are pet-friendly.
Surprisingly, London is the most accommodating for pets, though only 4.3% of its listings welcome animals.
However, 66.6% of HMO listings include bills, with the North West excelling at 77.2%.
No region drops below 62%, offering some relief for budget-conscious renters.
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Jo Westlake
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Sign Up10:40 AM, 25th June 2025, About 3 weeks ago
People usually choose HMOs for their convenient location. They are often young professionals with busy social lives and no time for gardening or pets. They often travel regularly either for work or leisure and don't want the hassle of having to arrange for someone to water their dahlias. Many HMOs are located in city centres close to public parks so they have plenty of access to green spaces.
Many people don't like pets, are allergic or culturally opposed. One of the attractions of HMO living is they don't have to put up with someone's mangy flea incubator slobbering all over them.
GlanACC
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Sign Up8:28 AM, 27th June 2025, About 2 weeks ago
Car parking is more important for HMOs than a garden, this is what causes the most friction in neighbourhoods