Homes and cars on Salford estate are defaced with anti-HMO slogans in graffiti crime spree: Boy, 13, is arrested

By JAMIE BOYS, REPORTER 00:04 13 Oct 2026, updated 00:05 13 Oct 2026

Homes and cars have been vandalised on a Salford estate in a graffiti crime spree, as a 13-year-old boy was arrested for criminal damage.

The words ‘no HMO’ were scrawled over houses while one vehicle had its windscreen and windows smashed with ‘R dirty old town’ and ‘no HMO’ written on it.

One house on Albert Park Road in Lower Broughton appeared to have five smashed windows with ‘no HMO’ painted over wooden boarding.

Another property on Nelson Street had the words ‘f*** Labour, no HMO’ scribbled across it.

A boy, 13, was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage in relation to the spate of graffiti in the area in the past week.

Chief Inspector Lee Gridley said the incidents reflected a ‘pattern of behaviour’ in the borough.

Similar incidents were also recorded in the Kersal area of the city, where windows were smashed and the same message was written on walls.

The houses in Lower Broughton were built in 2025 but there has been no planning application to convert the buildings into a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO), according to Manchester Evening News (MEN).

A number of banners were removed in a nearby area earlier in the week with the words ‘say no to migrant HMOs’.

An HMO is usually defined as a property shared by three or more unrelated people, such as students or professionals sharing a flat.

The Government has been criticised for its programme of ‘dispersed accommodation’ for migrants – an attempt to move away from hotel accommodation.

Some migrants have been moved to HMOs in residential areas, sparking protests.

Locals said they believed that the vandalism in their neighbourhood was politically motivated from anti-immigration sentiments, according to MEN.

It is unclear whether anyone lives in the houses.

Steven, 46, said: ‘I don’t think it’s very good for the area. But if all of these are indeed HMOs, I don’t know if I lived here, if I would be happy that there is a whole row of them.

‘I come to use the park, and you do see a lot of groups of young men now hanging around, smoking drugs and drinking, which you didn’t before. I think ultimately what is happening is people are putting two and two together and not necessarily getting four.’

Another told MEN: ‘They are terrorising people. They are jumping on a bandwagon. They are listening to rumours and making assumptions about people.’

Chief Inspector Lee Gridley said: ‘It is our priority to ensure this comes to an end. We recognise and support the public’s right to protest and will always work to facilitate lawful protest activity where possible.

‘However, there is a clear distinction between protest, and criminal activity, and where this threshold is crossed, our officers will act in full accordance with the law. We will not tolerate incidents where properties are damaged or individuals are subjected to criminal acts.’

The mayor of Salford, Paul Dennett, said: ‘Recent incidents have been reported in the media which are currently being investigated by police.

‘There is no place for hate, violence, intimidation or discrimination in our city, and we are working closely with our partners, including Greater Manchester Police, to respond to these incidents, support those impacted and help ensure everyone feels safe and welcome in Salford.

‘GMP will have extra officers in the area – this is normal when an investigation is being carried out and also for reassurance for our communities. Our communities are strongest when people from all backgrounds, faiths and cultures are treated with dignity, respect and kindness.

‘Our city motto is “the welfare of the people is the highest law” and any attempt to divide people, spread hatred or target individuals because of who they are is completely unacceptable. The spirit of Salford is what unites us.’

Manchester Police urged anyone with information surrounding the graffiti to come forward.

Reports can be made to 0161 856 7137 or 101, quoting 1865 08/10/26. Alternatively, you can use the LiveChat function on Greater Manchester Police’s website or call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The use of HMOs to house migrants has sparked protests across the country.

Violence broke out in Thetford on August 4 when furious residents surrounded three houses rumoured to be used by asylum seekers.

The disorder continued the following night when two officers needed hospital treatment – one who was hit by a rock and another who was ‘seriously bitten’ during another protest – and went into a third evening. Several arrests were made.

Protesters marched on Watton in May when migrants were relocated from the Brook Hotel in Bowthorpe, near Norwich, to properties in the town.

The hotel had been the scene of regular clashes between protestors and counter-protesters and put a huge strain on police resources.

Dereham has been the focus of long-running disputes over a local hotel being used as a large-scale HMO for asylum seekers.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said he wants ‘all parts of the country’ to ‘play their part’ by accepting asylum seekers to their area.

Home Office figures show there were 97,519 people in receipt of asylum support at the end of March this year.

Of these, 72,768 were in ‘other’ accommodation including ‘dispersal’ accommodation typically comprising flats or houses often set up as HMOs.

Another 20,885 were in hotel accommodation, while 3,866 were getting subsistence support only – meaning they solely received weekly money from the Government for basic living needs such as food, clothing and toiletries.

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