How to Keep Your HMO Fully Let: Tips for Minimising Voids

Empty rooms in a HMO are more than just an inconvenience. They eat into your profit and add unnecessary stress. If you’re a landlord dealing with frequent turnover or struggling to fill rooms, you’re not alone. Here, we’ll share practical, proven strategies to help HMO landlords in Liverpool keep occupancy high and void periods low.

As a trusted HMO property management company in Liverpool, Portus Lets supports landlords every day in staying ahead of the game and maximising income.

Get your pricing right

In competitive areas, pricing can make or break your ability to attract tenants. Set your rent too high and you’ll scare people off. Go too low and you’ll struggle to cover your costs.

Here’s what Portus Lets recommends:

• Check what similar rooms in your area are going for (make sure you’re comparing like-for-like in terms of size, furnishings and bills)
• Consider offering incentives such as a discounted first month’s rent or flexible deposits
• Build in value with extras like fast Wi-Fi, regular cleaning or furnished rooms

Being competitively priced doesn’t mean being the cheapest. It means offering the best overall package for the right tenant.

Advertise at the right time

Timing your listings properly can make a big difference. There are clear peaks in the rental calendar:

• Summer months (especially July to September) when students and graduates move
• New Year (January) when people are making fresh starts

Try to plan contract end dates around these busier periods. Start marketing rooms at least 6 weeks before they’re available to give yourself time to secure a new tenant and avoid last-minute scrambles.

If you’re managing multiple rooms, stagger the tenancies slightly to reduce the risk of having several empty at once.

Make tenants want to stay

One of the easiest ways to minimise voids is to avoid them altogether by keeping existing tenants happy. A good tenant who renews their contract saves you time, hassle and money.

Some easy retention wins:

• Regular, polite communication
• Speedy maintenance responses
• Small upgrades like a new mattress, fresh paint, or better kitchen appliances

At Portus, we often find that even basic touches like a welcome pack or a birthday card go a long way in creating loyalty.

Use your local knowledge

The rental market in Liverpool has its own quirks and cycles. The better you understand them, the more successful you’ll be.

Tap into Portus Lets, your local HMO property management company in Liverpool to:

• Identify high-demand streets or postcodes
• Learn which tenant types are currently most active (students, young professionals, contractors, etc.)
• Understand local competition and how to stand out

This kind of insight lets you adapt quickly to changes in demand and avoid long gaps between tenancies.

Work with experts

If you’re constantly dealing with empty rooms, it might be time to get some backup. A good HMO property management company in Liverpool like Portus can:

• Help you set the right rent
• Advertise your rooms across the best channels
• Carry out professional viewings
• Screen tenants to find the right fit

This saves you time and usually results in fewer voids and higher-quality tenants.

Need help keeping your HMO rooms occupied?

Portus Lets Ltd is here to support HMO landlords in Liverpool with everything from marketing to tenant retention. Call us on 0151 329 3538 or email us at hello@portuslets.co.uk to find out how we can help you stay fully let and stress-free.