HMO Tenants Wary of Unknown House Sharers, Claims Property Management Service
Lettings

HMO Tenants Wary of Unknown House Sharers, Claims Property Management Service

By The Property AI Team · 14 October 2026 · 2 min read

Editor's note: This brief was summarised by The Property AI Team from a report by Letting Agent Today. Read the original article for full details.

HMO Tenants Wary of Unknown House Sharers, Claims Property Management Service

A property management service says some HMO tenants feel insecure because they know little or nothing about their housemates. A study by COHO suggests that 21% of HMO residents say they have felt unsafe at some point because of a housemate.

The figure rises to more than one in four (27%) among those aged [age group not specified in source].

What the Source Reports

The report, published by Letting Agent Today, centres on findings attributed to COHO, described as a property management service. According to the excerpt, the study indicates that a notable proportion of HMO residents have experienced feelings of unsafety linked to a fellow occupant.

The source states that 21% of HMO residents say they have felt unsafe at some point because of a housemate. Among one age group, that figure rises to more than one in four, at 27%. The source excerpt does not specify which age group this refers to.

Relevance to Letting Agents and Inventory Clerks

The findings, as reported, point to concerns among HMO tenants about sharing a property with people they do not know. For letting agents operating in the HMO sector, the report highlights the issue of housemate familiarity as a factor in tenant experience.

Inventory clerks working across HMO properties may also note the reported link between unknown housemates and feelings of insecurity among residents.

The source does not include further detail on the methodology, sample size, or scope of the COHO study, nor does it include any comment from named individuals. As such, this brief is limited to the figures and claims explicitly stated in the source excerpt.


Source: Letting Agent Today
The Property AI Team — the team behind The Property AI's inventory software, covering UK lettings compliance, deposit-dispute evidence and inventory best practice.

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