Princes Street in Mansfield has undergone a dramatic transformation from a quiet residential neighbourhood into a hub for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), causing significant tension between long-standing residents and landlords seeking to maximise rental income. The situation came to a head on 15 September when owners of number 13 sought planning permission to increase occupancy from six to ten tenants in a modest three-storey property, a proposal that was subsequently approved despite local opposition. Residents including 75-year-old Cynthia Leveridge, who has lived on the street for 47 years, report that community spirit has collapsed, with complaints of anti-social behaviour, noise, and overflowing bins.

The surge in HMOs reflects broader housing pressures across Britain, with HMO conversion applications rising from 41,162 in 2018 to 57,725 in 2024, resulting in an estimated 472,823 HMOs nationally by 2025. The growth is driven by housing affordability, with demand for shared accommodation rising 2.3 per cent between 2024 and 2025. Government policy has also contributed, as local authorities use HMOs to house asylum seekers—currently over 72,000 people live in non-hotel accommodation including HMOs, down from 28,000 placed in 6,000 HMOs in 2023. Landlords profit by charging per room rather than per property, whilst residents argue councils have failed to manage the practice's impact on neighbourhood cohesion.