Planning Refusals for HMOs Double in Five Years, Analysis Finds
UK Property News

Planning Refusals for HMOs Double in Five Years, Analysis Finds

By The Property AI Team · 27 August 2026 · 1 min read

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

Planning Refusals for HMOs Double in Five Years

A new analysis indicates that planning refusals for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) have doubled over the past five years. The analysis, conducted by property company 1st Avenue, reviewed 144 English councils and found that refusals increased from 590 to 1,203 during this period.

The report notes that councils have increased licensing and other tactics to limit the spread of HMOs. This trend is relevant for UK letting agents and inventory clerks, as it may impact the availability and management of HMO properties.


Source: Landlord 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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