Renting HMOs SUSSED

At age 42 (nearly 43), I fell into the world of letting houses out on a room by room basis back in 2007. Since then, I've made lots of mistakes, fallen foul of the law (unintentionally), been taken for a ride, and most the time wondered what the hell I was doing! I began writing this guide after realising that Rising Damp wasn't just a sitcom of the 1970s. It's alive and well in the 21st century. Except with Rigsby retired, an entirely new breed of landlord are out there - often chance-takers, frequently dodgy, or simply just ignorant of their responsibilities - all drawn by the above-average yields they make from letting out houses. OK, so renting room by room to a bunch of strangers is no longer an armchair investment. Perhaps impossibly, I balance the ongoing needs of 15 tenants across 3 houses with a "e;normal"e; life of caring for my 3 children - the divide is often blurred, but the skill set remains the same! You see, I like my tenants and appreciate that each and every one of them has a story to tell. But putting 5 strangers in one house and expecting them to share a bathroom and kitchen nicely is like asking a group of toddlers to take turns banging a drum. Which is why I've produced Renting-HMOs SUSSED - to unravel the glories and pitfalls of HMO ownership! It talks you through the set up, the boring but necessary legal stuff, and how to manage your HMO tenants with a sense of humour.

At age 42 (nearly 43), I fell into the world of letting houses out on a room by room basis back in 2007. Since then, I've made lots of mistakes, fallen foul of the law (unintentionally), been taken for a ride, and most the time wondered what the hell I was doing! I began writing this guide after realising that Rising Damp wasn't just a sitcom of the 1970s. It's alive and well in the 21st century. Except with Rigsby retired, an entirely new breed of landlord are out there - often chance-takers, frequently dodgy, or simply just ignorant of their responsibilities - all drawn by the above-average yields they make from letting out houses. OK, so renting room by room to a bunch of strangers is no longer an armchair investment. Perhaps impossibly, I balance the ongoing needs of 15 tenants across 3 houses with a "e;normal"e; life of caring for my 3 children - the divide is often blurred, but the skill set remains the same! You see, I like my tenants and appreciate that each and every one of them has a story to tell. But putting 5 strangers in one house and expecting them to share a bathroom and kitchen nicely is like asking a group of toddlers to take turns banging a drum. Which is why I've produced Renting-HMOs SUSSED - to unravel the glories and pitfalls of HMO ownership! It talks you through the set up, the boring but necessary legal stuff, and how to manage your HMO tenants with a sense of humour.