Why HMOs Still Outperform Single Lets in Cheshire (And What Most Landlords Get Wrong)

If you’re a landlord in Crewe, Stoke-on-Trent or anywhere in Cheshire, you’ve probably noticed this: rental returns on single lets are getting tighter. Maintenance and compliance costs are up. And with the Renters Reform Bill around the corner, cash flow matters more than ever.

Enter the HMO. Properly managed, a House in Multiple Occupation still offers some of the best rental yields in the North West — but only if it’s done right.

At NUVO Lettings, we’re landlords ourselves. We manage our own HMOs and work with local landlords across Cheshire and Staffordshire to set up, fill, and run multi-lets profitably. Here’s why we still believe in HMOs — and what most landlords get wrong.

1. HMOs Bring in 1.5x to 2x More Than Single Lets

Let’s take a standard 3-bed terrace in Crewe as an example.

As a single let, you might get around £750 per month. Convert that same house into a compliant 4-bed HMO and you could earn:

4 rooms at £450 = £1,800 per month gross

Even after bills, maintenance and management, your net income is often double. That’s not theory — that’s what we’re doing with our own properties right now.

2. Room Demand in Crewe and Stoke is Still Strong

We track room demand across Spareroom, Facebook, and our own tenant network. Here’s what we’re seeing:

• In Crewe, rooms close to Bentley Motors and the train station fill fast

• In Stoke, rooms near Royal Stoke Hospital, Festival Park, or bus routes stay in high demand

• En-suites, furnished rooms, and high-speed Wi-Fi are key for working professionals

If your rooms are priced right and well presented, voids are minimal.

3. HMOs Spread Your Risk (Single Lets Don’t)

With a single let, if your tenant leaves — you’re at 100% void. With a 4-bed HMO, even if one room is empty, you’re still bringing in 75% of your income.

It’s a built-in buffer — especially helpful during uncertain times or seasonal dips in demand.

4. Most Landlords Get Licensing and Setup Wrong

This is where many go wrong. We’ve seen landlords:

• Let 5 tenants without checking if an HMO licence was needed

• Skip interlinked fire alarms or ignore fire door requirements

• Rent rooms below the legal minimum size without realising

HMO regulations in Crewe and Stoke are specific — and enforcement is picking up. We help landlords avoid all of that by handling the compliance, licensing and inspections from day one.

5. Management Will Make or Break You

Let’s be honest: badly managed HMOs are chaos. Dirty kitchens, noisy tenants, constant repairs.

But with systems in place, they can be smooth, stable income machines.

At NUVO, we:

• Conduct weekly property checks

• Pre-screen tenants for shared living compatibility

• Track maintenance and cleaning digitally

• Build WhatsApp groups for fast, low-conflict communication

This is the system we use on our own houses — and it works.

6. We Can Help You Do It — Or Teach You to DIY It Properly

Whether you want to:

• Convert a buy-to-let into an HMO

• Get rooms filled quickly and stop voids

• Stay hands-on, but use our systems…

We’ve got you. We’re not a traditional lettings agent — we’re a team of landlords with real, local experience.

Thinking About Going HMO in Cheshire?

Let’s make sure it’s the right move — and that you do it right.

📞 Book a free HMO strategy call

📧 Email us your property and we’ll tell you if it’s a good HMO candidate

HMOs still outperform — if you’ve got the right setup behind them.