HMO Designers

What HMO Designers does

HMO Designers is a UK-based architecture and design consultancy founded in 2021 by Ed Kercher, operating nationwide from its Southampton headquarters to serve property investors and landlords converting residential properties into Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). The company delivers an end-to-end, five-stage service covering feasibility analysis, design, planning permission, building regulations, Sui Generis applications for large HMOs, property sourcing, finance structuring, interior design, and compliance, reporting 168 projects commissioned, 72 completed HMOs, a 96.5% planning approval rate, and a 10.5% average client property yield. Its flagship technology is HMO Checker, an in-house AI-powered feasibility tool that analyses any UK property across 300+ local councils, generating financial breakdowns, valuations, density checks, Article 4 assessments, and planning analysis.

The business runs on a professional services revenue model with direct sales to SMB property investors, supplemented by a content-led go-to-market comprising 22+ blog articles, free HMO investment webinars, and one-on-one expert sessions that feed a no-obligation free feasibility study at the top of the funnel. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; the feasibility study acts as the conversion mechanism into paid planning, design, and compliance engagements. Credibility is reinforced by a 2024 HMO Awards "Best Co-living Space Design - Highly Commended" recognition and by leadership experience that combines architectural qualifications, prior architectural practice directorship (Ed Kercher at Thistle Architecture), personal HMO investment activity, and lived HMO residency. The company is privately held with no institutional funding, parent entity, or subsidiaries disclosed in the available data.

Name

HMO Designers

Legal name

HMO Designers

Website

https://hmodesigners.co.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

HMO Designers is a UK-wide architecture and design consultancy, founded 2021, that helps property investors and landlords convert residential properties into HMOs via planning, building regulations, design, sourcing, finance, and compliance services powered by its proprietary HMO Checker software.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural and Design Services for HMO Property Conversions

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131), Interior Design Services (541410)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial/Product & Furniture Design (BPAHAKAM)

Keywords

• HMO architecture services
• HMO design consultancy
• HMO planning permission
• Building regulations compliance
• Property feasibility analysis

Headquarters

HQ city

Southampton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. HMO Planning Permission Services: Planning application management for change-of-use and external alterations with a 96.5% approval rate.
2. HMO Building Regulations Services: Design, management and coordination of the entire building regulation and technical stage for HMO conversions.
3. Sui Generis Large HMO Applications: End-to-end handling of large HMO change-of-use applications for properties with 7+ occupants.
4. HMO Sourcing: Finding properties with the strongest HMO conversion potential for investors.
5. HMO Finance: Financial structuring services to ensure HMO schemes stack up financially and refinance cleanly.
6. Interior Design: High-end, durable interior design services for HMO properties enabling rapid room completion.
7. Compliance Services: HMO compliance services ensuring properties meet regulatory requirements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

HMO Designers provides end-to-end architecture and design services for HMO (Houses in Multiple Occupation) property conversions across the UK. The firm delivers a five-stage in-house process covering feasibility, design, planning, technical, and construction, with offerings including Feasibility Study, HMO Planning Permission, HMO Building Regulations, Sui Generis (Large HMO) applications, HMO Sourcing, HMO Finance, Interior Design, and Compliance Services. Their proprietary AI-powered HMO Checker software analyses properties across 300+ UK councils for conversion potential.

Product overview

HMO Designers is a nationwide architecture and design consultancy offering comprehensive services for HMO (Houses in Multiple Occupation) property investment. The company provides a unified service portfolio comprising seven core offerings: Feasibility Study, HMO Planning Permission, HMO Building Regulations, Sui Generis (Large HMOs), HMO Sourcing, HMO Finance, Interior Design, and Compliance Services. Their flagship software tool is HMO Checker, an AI-powered feasibility analysis platform that covers 300+ UK local councils. The company operates a five-stage process (Feasibility, Design, Planning, Technical, Construction) and supports investors through educational resources including webinars, investment guides, and regulatory compliance guides covering room sizes, licensing, and property management. Their clients include landlords and property investors seeking to convert properties into HMOs or co-living spaces, with a track record of 168 projects commissioned, 10.5% average property yield, and 96.5% planning approval rate.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Feasibility Study Data-led appraisal service using the proprietary HMO Checker software to analyse any property in the UK for HMO conversion potential, assessing planning likelihood, HMO valuations, current room rates, and development potential. Offered free with no obligation to property investors and landlords as an entry point to the firm's services.
• HMO Planning Permission End-to-end management of the planning application process for HMO conversions, including change-of-use and external alterations. The firm guides clients through necessary approvals and reports a 96.5% approval rate across applications.
• HMO Building Regulations Design, management, and coordination of the entire building regulation and technical stage for HMO conversions, ensuring full compliance with applicable building standards.
• Sui Generis (Large HMOs) Handles Large-HMO change-of-use applications end-to-end, from C3/C4 use class conversions to Sui Generis planning applications for properties with 7+ occupants.
• HMO Sourcing Identifies properties with the strongest HMO conversion potential, helping investors find suitable properties to acquire and convert.
• HMO Finance Structures the financial arrangements for HMO schemes to ensure they stack up financially and refinance cleanly for investors.
• Interior Design Provides high-end, durable interior design for HMOs that can be completed in days rather than weeks, focused on modern aesthetics, functionality, and tenant appeal.
• Compliance Services Comprehensive compliance guidance ensuring HMO properties meet all regulatory requirements including licensing, safety standards, and room size regulations.
• HMO Checker AI-powered in-house feasibility software providing instant property analysis across 300+ UK local councils, offering financial breakdowns, HMO valuations, development potential assessments, density checks, Article 4 checks, and planning analysis. Used both as a free top-of-funnel tool and to power the firm's paid Feasibility Study service.

Quantifiable outcome

• 96.5% planning approval rate across change-of-use and external alterations
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Yieldit: UK HMO property sourcing and investment service focused on high-yield conversions. Comparable on sourcing/feasibility and similar landlord/investor customer base.
• The HMO Doctor: UK consultancy offering HMO-related design, planning, and management services to landlords and investors. A direct niche competitor with overlapping service lines.
• Sourced: UK HMO property sourcing and investment franchise that helps investors find, design, and convert HMOs. Comparable offering overlapping with HMO Designers' sourcing and feasibility services.
• HMO Architects: UK architecture firm specializing in HMO planning, design, and building regulations. Direct competitor in the same niche serving property investors and landlords with similar end-to-end conversion services.

Others

• Fixflo: Property maintenance and repairs software for landlords and property managers. Adjacent technology provider in the HMO operating ecosystem and existing partner of HMO Designers.
• COHO: HMO property management software platform referenced as a partner. Adjacent ecosystem player enabling HMO landlords to manage operations, sharing the same end customer.

Broad incumbents

• Savills: Global real estate services firm with UK residential investment and planning advisory. Broad incumbent offering overlapping property advisory services to institutional and sophisticated HMO investors.
• Knight Frank: Large global real estate services firm offering residential investment advisory and valuation. Broad incumbent overlapping at the high end of HMO/investment property advisory.

Emerging players

• Sprift: UK property data and analytics platform offering market intelligence to landlords and investors. Comparable through shared HMO market data focus and investor-targeted tools.

Regional players

• Fleet Milne: Birmingham-based property services firm with HMO-specific design and management offerings. Comparable in HMO design focus but primarily serves the Midlands region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@hmodesigners
• Facebookfacebook.com/hmodesigners
• Instagraminstagram.com/hmodesigners
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lupilite

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about HMO Designers