Key Points
- The Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has verified more than 40 complaints of criminal damage associated with a “no HMO” vandals’ crusade since 5 October 2026.
- Among the crimes that are currently under investigation, 38 cases are in Salford, and the recently reported crimes are in Stockport.
- The doors, windows, and walls of properties were painted with “no HMO” spray-paint before smashing the windows with bricks or any other similar heavy objects.
- According to the police, many of the targeted properties were families’ houses rather than HMOs, while some were wrongly perceived to be HMOs.
- The crime originated in Kersal and Lower Broughton before spreading to Little Hulton and Walkden, as well as Stockport.
- A 13-year-old boy was detained on 9 October under the charge of criminal damage; later, it was reported that he was put on police bail.
- According to GMP, the vast majority of the reported cases are considered to be racist or religiously motivated at the moment.
- In a statement, Chief Inspector Lee Gridley added that the police support the legal protest but will act if behavior turns to crime.
- Salford mayor Paul Dennett said that the reported crimes are being investigated by the police.
Manchester Police (Manchester Mirror) October 17, 2026 — It has confirmed that it is investigating more than 40 reports of criminal damage connected to a series of “no HMO” vandalism incidents across parts of Greater Manchester.
As reported by The Bolton News, GMP said it had received 40 reports of criminal damage at properties since 5 October. The force said the properties included HMOs, but also stated that properties mistaken for HMOs appeared to have been targeted.
“Thirty-eight of the offences under investigation have been committed in Salford,” GMP said. “The most recent incidents, reported to us today (Friday 16 October), concern properties in Stockport.”
The police statement said the investigation was progressing and that officers were working closely with partner agencies to address the offending. GMP also said it was monitoring social media coverage of the incidents and urged the public to seek updates from trusted sources.
How Did the Vandalism Begin?
The first reported incidents began on 5 October in the Kersal and Lower Broughton areas of Salford. According to The Bolton News, the attacks subsequently spread to other parts of Salford, including Little Hulton and Walkden, before incidents were reported in Stockport.
In the affected areas, properties have been marked with “no HMO” sprayed on doors, windows and walls. In several cases, bricks or other heavy objects were then thrown through windows.
The Bolton News reported that several properties on Manchester Road and Manchester Road East, in Little Hulton and Walkden, were damaged. Despite the graffiti, many of the houses were not HMOs.
The term HMO refers to a house in multiple occupation, generally a property shared by three or more people who are not from the same household. Such properties can be subject to additional regulatory requirements and have sometimes been the focus of local housing debates.
Which Areas Have Been Affected?
The reported pattern of damage has moved across several communities. The initial incidents were recorded in Kersal and Lower Broughton. Later reports involved Little Hulton and Walkden, and GMP confirmed on 16 October that further incidents had been reported in Stockport.
Earlier in the investigation, the BBC reported that police were examining 25 linked incidents of criminal damage across Salford. At that stage, GMP said the incidents shared a similar pattern and that HMOs were believed to be being targeted.
The latest police update substantially increased the recorded total to 40 reports. The Manchester Evening News reported that 38 incidents occurred in Salford and two additional reports emerged from Stockport.
What Damage Has Been Reported?
The reported damage has included smashed windows, graffiti and vandalism to homes and vehicles. In Lower Broughton, residents told the Manchester Evening News that at least six homes and two vehicles had been targeted on Nelson Street and Albert Park Road.
As reported by the Manchester Evening News, images showed a damaged vehicle on Nelson Street with its windscreen and windows shattered and anti-HMO slogans written on its bodywork. A nearby property reportedly had offensive political language alongside “no HMO” painted on its front door.
The newspaper also reported that a property on Albert Park Road appeared to have five smashed windows, with “no HMO” spray-painted on boarding.
The Bolton News later reported that vandalism on 13 October affected several locations on Manchester Road and Manchester Road East. It said “no HMO” had been sprayed on properties and front windows smashed. The report also stated that, in some cases, fires had been deliberately lit.
Have Police Made Any Arrests?
GMP confirmed that a 13-year-old boy was arrested on 9 October on suspicion of criminal damage in connection with the investigation. The Bolton News reported that no further arrests had been made since then.
The BBC subsequently reported that the boy had been released on police bail.
The Manchester Evening News reported that the arrest followed incidents in Kersal and Lower Broughton, including damage reported at a property on Kingsley Avenue and further vandalism recorded in the Albert Park and Nelson Street areas.
Police have not named the boy, and no conviction or finding of guilt has been reported. An arrest is not evidence of guilt, and the investigation remains ongoing.
How Are Police Responding?
GMP has said its Salford Neighbourhood Team is investigating the reports and working with partners. The force has also increased visible policing in affected areas, with the Manchester Evening News reporting that patrols would be maintained over the weekend, including in Stockport.
Chief Inspector Lee Gridley, who oversees neighbourhood policing in Salford, said the rising number of incidents represented a concerning trend. As reported by the Manchester Evening News, he said: “The rising number of incidents indicates a troubling trend in the area, and it is our priority to put an end to this.”
In a separate statement reported by the Daily Mail, Chief Inspector Gridley said: “We recognise and support the public’s right to protest and will always work to facilitate lawful protest activity where possible.” He added that there was a clear distinction between protest and criminal activity, and that officers would act in accordance with the law where that threshold was crossed.
GMP has asked anyone with information to contact police, use its LiveChat service, or provide information anonymously to Crimestoppers. The Daily Mail reported that GMP gave the reference number 1865 08/10/26 for reports connected to the incidents.
What Have Local Leaders Said?
Salford mayor Paul Dennett said recent incidents reported in the media were being investigated by police. His comments were reported by the Daily Mail in its coverage of the Salford vandalism.
The Manchester Evening News also reported that Salford Council removed banners reading “say no to migrant HMOs” from lampposts in Cadhead and Irl, citing concerns about incitement to violence.
It is important to distinguish between the removal of banners and the criminal damage investigation. The council’s action concerned displayed material, while GMP’s investigation concerns reports of property damage and graffiti.
Why Are Some Homes Being Mistaken for HMOs?
Police have said that not all properties targeted were HMOs and that some may have been mistakenly identified as such. GMP stated:
“We also believe properties mistaken for HMOs are being targeted.”
This point has been emphasised in successive police updates. The Manchester Evening News reported that homes identified as potential HMOs had windows shattered and graffiti sprayed on walls, while properties wrongly identified as HMOs had also been targeted.
The BBC’s earlier reporting similarly stated that police believed HMOs were being targeted, while later updates from GMP clarified that family homes were among the affected properties.
Background of the Development
Houses in multiple occupation are properties shared by three or more unrelated people, often providing lower-cost accommodation in areas with high housing demand. They can become subjects of local debate over parking, waste, overcrowding and neighbourhood change, but the vandalism investigated by GMP involves criminal damage rather than lawful objection to planning or licensing policy.
The current investigation began after reports of damage in Kersal and Lower Broughton from 5 October. Early coverage by the Manchester Evening News described damage to homes and a car, while the BBC reported 25 linked incidents by 14 October. By 16 October, GMP’s confirmed total had risen to 40 reports, with the geographic spread extending to Stockport.
The case has also drawn attention to the role of social media. GMP said officers were monitoring social media coverage and encouraged the public to use trusted sources for updates. The Manchester Evening News reported that images and claims connected to the incidents had circulated widely online.
Prediction: How Could This Affect Residents?
For residents in Salford, Stockport and surrounding communities, the immediate effect is likely to be greater concern about property security and neighbourhood safety. Increased police patrols may provide reassurance, but homeowners—particularly those whose properties could be mistaken for HMOs—may feel heightened anxiety while the investigation continues.
Landlords and HMO operators may face practical consequences, including pressure to improve property security, clarify signage or licensing information, and communicate with tenants. However, police have not said that any particular group of landlords or residents is responsible for the incidents, and the investigation remains ongoing.
For the wider community, the development may increase demand for clearer communication from police, councils and community organisations. GMP’s emphasis on trusted information suggests concerns about online speculation, while its statement that many reports are being treated as racially or religiously motivated indicates that the investigation may have implications for community relations beyond the immediate damage to property.
