The Void Killer: How We Keep Rooms Full in Crewe & Stoke HMOs

If you own an HMO in Crewe, Stoke-on-Trent, or anywhere across Cheshire, you probably know this pain: empty rooms that stay empty — costing you hundreds a month.

We’re NUVO Lettings, a letting agency built by landlords, not just for them. We manage HMOs across South Cheshire and Staffordshire — and we’ve developed proven systems to fill rooms faster, even during slow months.

Here’s how we keep our own portfolio — and our landlords’ — at 95–100% occupancy, all year round.

1. We List Properties Where Tenants Actually Search

You’d be surprised how many agents still rely on Rightmove only. At NUVO, we use a combo of:

• Spareroom (the go-to for HMO tenants)

• Facebook Marketplace (still gold in Crewe & Stoke)

• Local Facebook groups

• WhatsApp networks of past tenants and contractors

We know where your ideal tenants are looking — because we look there ourselves for our own rooms.

2. We Build Stand-Out Listings (Not Boring Ones)

Tenants don’t want stock photos and bullet points. We use:

• Real, professional photos

• Floor plans

• Engaging but honest copy (no “stunning throughout” fluff)

We highlight what matters: bills included, working tenants, quiet household, on-street parking, close to Bentley or Royal Stoke Hospital — whatever’s relevant.

3. We Respond Fast (Like, Under 5 Minutes Fast)

Tenants ghost agents who take days to reply. Our system pings us the moment someone sends a message — and we reply fast.

Why? Because we’ve tracked the drop-off rate. If you wait over an hour, they’ve already messaged 5 other listings.

Speed fills rooms.

4. We Book Viewings That Actually Show Up

We pre-screen every enquiry — checking affordability, move-in date, and suitability (e.g. shift work, smoking, DSS) before booking viewings.

That means fewer no-shows, better conversion, and less wasted time.

5. We Price Rooms Properly — Not Just “Cheap”

A low price doesn’t always mean a fast let. If your photos are poor or your advert’s confusing, even £70/week won’t shift it.

We know the true going rates in every micro-area of Crewe and Stoke. Sometimes, increasing rent by £5–10 and marketing it right gets it filled quicker.

6. We Reduce Voids Before Tenants Even Leave

Our internal systems flag when a tenant gives notice. We:

• Book a pre-exit clean & check-up

• Schedule viewings before the room is empty

• Line up the next tenant so there’s zero downtime

It’s how we run our own portfolio — and why NUVO-managed rooms rarely go empty for more than a few days.

Want This System Working on Your Properties?

Whether you’re self-managing and struggling to keep rooms full, or you’re stuck with a letting agent that isn’t pulling their weight — we can help.

We offer low-cost, high-efficiency HMO management in Crewe, Stoke, and the surrounding Cheshire area.

Download our free Landlord Pack, call us for a 15-minute no-pressure chat, or just email us your current voids — we’ll suggest fixes.