Co-living HMO refurbs across County Down

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 County Down, priced against the HMO rules for Northern Ireland and the council’s own standards.

Nation: Northern Ireland
Pricing region: Northern Ireland
Postcode areas: BT
Main towns: Bangor (County Down), Banbridge, Holywood

What do professional and co-living HMO refurbs in County Down involve?

Bike and bin storage
Smart heating and lighting controls
Ensuite to every room where space allows
Interior design and furnishing coordination
Sound insulation between rooms
Designer communal kitchen and lounge

Which rules apply in County Down?

A licence is needed where 3 or more people forming more than two households live as their main home and pay rent; the NI HMO Unit at Belfast City Council licenses for every council.
Space and amenity standards come from the HMO (Living Accommodation Standard) Regulations (NI) 2019 and the licence conditions.
Kitchens, bathrooms and WCs must meet the 2019 living accommodation standard regulations and licence conditions.
The NIFRS HMO Fire Safety Guide (July 2026) usually expects Grade D1 interlinked detection in smaller shared houses and a Grade A system with more than 6 occupants or over 200 m².
Building control requirements apply to new HMOs, including separating walls and floors where relevant.

In Northern Ireland, licensing is run centrally by the NI HMO Unit, and all new HMOs need planning permission and building control approval from the local council.

How much do professional and co-living HMO refurbs cost in County Down?

Regional adjustment for Northern Ireland. Planning budgets: see our prices page.
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	£3,600 – £8,100	letting room
Ensuite shower room added to a bedroom	£4,000 – £10,000	£3,600 – £9,000	ensuite
Communal HMO kitchen with extra cooking and sink capacity (our estimate from domestic ranges)	£8,000 – £18,000	£7,200 – £16,200	kitchen
Acoustic upgrade to a party or partition wall	£900 – £2,000	£810 – £1,800	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 County Down

Questions about professional and co-living HMO refurbs in County Down

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 County Down?

Yes, across the whole of County Down, including Bangor (County Down), Banbridge, Holywood.

Who licenses HMOs in County Down?

HMO licensing in County Down, as everywhere in Northern Ireland, is run by the NI HMO Unit at Belfast City Council. Planning and building control are handled by the local council.

Professional and co-living HMO refurbs across County Down

What do professional and co-living HMO refurbs in County Down involve?

Which rules apply in County Down?

How much do professional and co-living HMO refurbs cost in County Down?

Professional and co-living HMO refurbs by town in County Down

Questions about professional and co-living HMO refurbs in County Down

Other HMO services in County Down

Planning HMO works?