Is This the Worst HMO in Wales?
Look at the pictures below, what do you think? Surely this has to be a contender.
The property actually consists of 5 self-contained flats in one building on one title. And in Wales it requires an HMO licence as does any property with 3 or more people from 2 or more households.
And unbelievably, at the point these before pictures were taken the house was ‘fully managed’ by a high-street letting agent.
The owner contacted us last year when it emerged that a leak from a shower had damaged ceilings on 2 floors and would cost £24k to repair via insurance. He was not contacted by his letting though, it was the insurance assessor who, stunned by what he saw, rang the owner who lives remotely.
Can you manage how he felt walking in to this?
He paid thousands to the agent over many years and believed that the agent was managing the property but clearly that was not the case.
The property had been allowed to deteriorate into a condition in which it had become a nightmare for the people living in it.
We managed the refurbishment on behalf of the owner and now manage the property on his behalf. The owner is now receiving guaranteed rent and has total peace of mind that his HMO will be managed diligently going forward. It now looks like this…
When it comes to HMOs you need an A Team
If you live remotely and have an agent managing your HMO ensure that you see evidence (photos or videos) from inspection visits.
Getting your HMO refurbished and ready to let is the easy bit. Keeping it well maintained, fully compliant and a place people love to live is the hard part. Get the right team.