🏡 Rethinking the Student HMO: What Tenants Really Want in 2025

There’s a quiet revolution happening in the shared housing market — and it’s not just about en-suites, free toasters or swanky mood lighting anymore. A new report, covered by Property Investor Today, dives into the modern tenant psyche and reveals what’s really driving decisions in the HMO sector. The findings aren’t just eye-opening — they’re a roadmap for where student lettings need to go next.

At Student Housing, we’ve long believed that shared living can and should be more than a stopgap between halls and adulthood. But until now, the conversation around student HMOs has largely centred on amenities and location. This new research signals a shift in what students (and, increasingly, young professionals) value — and if we’re listening properly, it offers a chance to do things very differently.

It’s Not About the Room — It’s About the Roommate

One of the most striking findings in COHO’s 2025 Shared Living Report is that 66% of renters would prefer to know who they’re living with before they move in. In fact, nearly half would pay more for that assurance. It’s a clear message: people don’t just want a house, they want a home — and that starts with the people in it.

In an industry that still largely treats tenants as interchangeable, this shift in mindset demands attention. For us, it reaffirms the importance of our tenant-matching process — not as a nice-to-have, but as a core part of delivering a successful tenancy. Compatibility isn’t a luxury; it’s part of the value proposition.

Clean, Connected, and Cared For

Another message comes through loud and clear: tenants don’t want gimmicks, they want reliability.

Forget Instagrammable features or beanbag-filled “communal spaces” that rarely get used. The report shows that high-speed internet ranks higher than private bathrooms for many renters — especially students. Fast Wi‑Fi isn’t a perk. It’s a baseline expectation in 2025.

Likewise, maintenance matters more than ever. Over 85% of tenants say a slow response to issues would push them to leave a property. That stat lands hard. It tells us that landlords and agents who fail to take maintenance seriously aren’t just risking bad reviews — they’re risking the viability of their investment.

At Student Housing, this is why our online reporting system is backed by a full-time maintenance team and structured SLAs. It’s also why we’ve standardised pre-tenancy cleans, post-check-out reports, and transparent repair communication. Because for all the data in the world, it comes down to one principle: if people feel looked after, they’ll stay.

Not Just for Students Anymore

Perhaps the most unexpected detail? The demographic shift. The report found that a growing percentage of shared renters are now 40+ years old. This challenges the assumption that HMOs are purely a student affair — and opens up a broader market for purpose-built, well-managed, shared living spaces.

It’s something we’re watching closely as we develop new schemes like Tanners Lane. A 127-bed HMO project doesn’t need to serve only one tenant type. In fact, the future of high-yield shared living may depend on embracing cross-demographic appeal — where students, postgrads and young professionals can all coexist in a thoughtfully curated environment.

What This Means for Landlords

If you’re a landlord with a student HMO, the implications are clear: success in 2025 and beyond will hinge less on cramming in more bedrooms and more on designing for experience.

That means:

Investing in Wi‑Fi infrastructure over whirlpool baths.
Prioritising fast, proactive maintenance.
Offering group matching tools or curated introductions.
Creating a sense of home, not just a set of locks and keys.

With rising expectations and rising yields, shared living is no longer the budget end of the lettings market. It’s a premium product — and landlords who treat it that way will see the results.

Final Thoughts

We’ve always said that student housing should be done differently — and the data now backs that up. As the market matures, so must the approach. That doesn’t mean building glossier brochures or upselling extras. It means understanding what tenants actually care about, and delivering it — consistently, intelligently, and with empathy.

Because at the end of the day, this isn’t just about property. It’s about people.

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