In short: A professional or co-living HMO refurbishment creates a higher-specification shared home: ensuite bedrooms, well-designed shared kitchens and lounges, good sound insulation, and finishes aimed at working tenants. We carry this out across Cardiff, priced against the HMO rules for Wales and the council’s own standards.
- Nation
- Wales
- Pricing region
- Wales
- Postcode areas
- CF
- Main towns
- Cardiff, Whitchurch
What do professional and co-living HMO refurbs in Cardiff involve?
- Bike and bin storage
- Smart heating and lighting controls
- Interior design and furnishing coordination
- Kitchenettes in rooms where the layout allows
- Ensuite to every room where space allows
- Designer communal kitchen and lounge
Which rules apply in Cardiff?
- Landlords must register with Rent Smart Wales, and those who manage their own lets need a Rent Smart Wales licence.
- England’s national room sizes do not apply in Wales; councils set their own room standards.
- Kitchen and bathroom ratios are set in each council’s HMO standards.
- Fitness for human habitation rules require mains-powered, interlinked smoke alarms on every storey and CO alarms where there is a gas, oil or solid-fuel appliance.
- Building regulations sound requirements can apply to conversions and new separating walls and floors.
Cardiff Council: local HMO schemes
| Additional licensing | In force in part of the council area Cathays: 1 Feb 2023 to 1 Feb 2028. Plasnewydd had a scheme from 1 Jan 2021; check with Cardiff Council whether it has been renewed. |
|---|---|
| Selective licensing | No scheme found |
Schemes change. Check the council’s current pages for the exact address in Cardiff before you buy or start work. Source: Cardiff Council HMO licensing page, checked 2026-10-31.
How much do professional and co-living HMO refurbs cost in Cardiff?
| Item | UK typical | Local guide | Per |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full refurbishment per letting room, with a share of communal areas (excludes kitchens, bathrooms and fire systems; our estimate) | £4,000 – £9,000 | £3,750 – £8,450 | letting room |
| Ensuite shower room added to a bedroom | £4,000 – £10,000 | £3,750 – £9,400 | ensuite |
| Communal HMO kitchen with extra cooking and sink capacity (our estimate from domestic ranges) | £8,000 – £18,000 | £7,500 – £16,900 | kitchen |
| Acoustic upgrade to a party or partition wall | £900 – £2,000 | £850 – £1,900 | wall |
Typical time on site: 8–16 weeks. For a figure for your house, try the guide-price tool.
Professional and co-living HMO refurbs by town in Cardiff
Questions about professional and co-living HMO refurbs in Cardiff
Is co-living treated differently from an HMO?
If unrelated people share facilities, it is normally an HMO, whatever it is called. Larger schemes can also raise planning questions.
Can every room have an ensuite?
Only where the room is still big enough after the ensuite is taken out and drainage can be reached. We check both before designing.
Do you carry out professional and co-living HMO refurbs across Cardiff?
Yes, across the whole of Cardiff, including Cardiff, Whitchurch.
Who licenses HMOs in Cardiff?
Cardiff council licenses HMOs in its area. Landlords must also register with Rent Smart Wales.