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. Exeter is 36 miles north-east of Plymouth. We price professional and co-living HMO refurbs there against England’s HMO rules and the council’s written HMO standards, so work is planned to the standard an inspection looks for. With students as well as working sharers renting in Exeter, we plan bigger jobs for the gap between academic-year tenancies where we can.
- Area
- Devon, England
- Postcodes
- EX2 and EX4
- Location
- 36 miles north-east of Plymouth
- Council
- Exeter City Council
- Pricing region
- South West
What do professional and co-living HMO refurbs in Exeter involve?
- Smart heating and lighting controls
- Ensuite to every room where space allows
- Kitchenettes in rooms where the layout allows
- Sound insulation between rooms
- High-quality fire doors and finishes
Which rules apply in Exeter?
Professional and co-living HMO refurbs in Exeter must satisfy national law for England, the council’s written HMO standards and, where walls, drainage or fire separation change, the building rules. In short:
- Mandatory HMO licence for 5 or more people in 2 or more households (since October 2018); councils can add additional licensing for smaller HMOs.
- Floor area under a ceiling lower than 1.5 m does not count towards the room size, and many councils set larger sizes.
- National rules ask for an adequate number of bathrooms, WCs and basins and suitably located kitchens; numeric ratios are set by each council.
- Fire precautions follow a risk assessment; the LACORS Housing – Fire Safety guide (2008) is guidance, not law, but many councils base their standards on it.
Exeter City Council: local HMO schemes
| Article 4 (HMO) | In force in part of the council area New, larger Article 4 Direction (around the city centre and university) confirmed 28 Mar 2024, in effect 23 Dec 2024, replacing the 2010 direction. |
|---|---|
| Additional licensing | No scheme found |
| Selective licensing | No scheme found |
Schemes change. Check the council’s current pages for the exact address in Exeter before you buy or start work. Source: Exeter City Council HMO licensing page, checked 2026-10-31.
How much do professional and co-living HMO refurbs cost in Exeter?
| 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 | £4,150 – £9,350 | letting room |
| Ensuite shower room added to a bedroom | £4,000 – £10,000 | £4,150 – £10,400 | ensuite |
| Communal HMO kitchen with extra cooking and sink capacity (our estimate from domestic ranges) | £8,000 – £18,000 | £8,300 – £18,700 | kitchen |
| Acoustic upgrade to a party or partition wall | £900 – £2,000 | £940 – £2,100 | wall |
Prices in Exeter are shown with our regional adjustment for South West (above the UK average). Your quote is itemised and fixed in writing once the scope and specification are agreed.
How long does it take?
Typical time on site: 8–16 weeks. We agree the programme with you before starting and send photo updates as the work progresses.
If the house is let to students, we work backwards from the next tenancy start date in Exeter.
When do Exeter landlords need it?
Landlords in Exeter most often ask us for this when:
- Larger houses with room for ensuites
- Town-centre houses near transport links
Questions about professional and co-living HMO refurbs in Exeter
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.
Which postcodes in Exeter do you work in?
All of them, including EX2 and EX4, and the surrounding parts of Devon.
Which council covers HMOs in Exeter?
Exeter is covered by Exeter City Council. We read the council’s written HMO standards before pricing, and you should check the licence position for the exact address.
How much do professional and co-living HMO refurbs cost in Exeter?
Our guide ranges for South West are in the table on this page, and the guide-price tool gives a figure for your house. A fixed written quote follows a free site visit.
Professional and co-living HMO refurbs near Exeter
- Heavitree · 1 mi
- Exmouth · 9 mi
- Tiverton · 12 mi
- Newton Abbot · 14 mi
- Torquay · 18 mi
- Paignton · 20 mi
- All of Devon