Survey reveals that numerous HMO rooms must be reserved several months in advance. – TNT

New market analysis from HMO management platform COHO has revealed that over a quarter of shared living tenants are having to secure rooms months in advance and that in some cities, as few as one in nine live listings are available for immediate occupancy in some cities.

The figures are based over 13,000 shared living listings across 15 cities*. They show that only 58.6% of rooms being advertised are listed as being available for immediate move-in. and that over a quarter (27%) still won’t be available for at least one to three months, meaning many tenants need to plan their move well in advance, or relocate to a new city.

An estimated 10% of current shared living listings are more than three months away from being available.

The findings show marked regional variation in immediate availability. The lowest figure is in Brighton, with only 11% of current listings are available for move-in right away. This is significantly worse than the second-worst number (28.1% in Nottingham), and a world away from the best-performing location, with 85.7% of house share rents available straightaway, followed by Sheffield (74.5%).

The full table of COHO’s analysis:

*HMO/shared living listings and timelines sourced from Zoopla (correct as of 27th/07/2025)

COHO founder and CEO, Vann Vogstad, commented: “Navigating the shared living market can occasionally feel a bit overwhelming. Trying to find a home in the right area can be tricky enough, but finding one whose availability aligns with your requirements can be a further challenge. We will always recommend that people give themselves a decent amount of time to find the right home for their next move, but also appreciate that this luxury isn’t always possible when circumstances change unexpectedly or other life factors demand an immediate relocation.”