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. For a house in Southampton we start with a measured survey, check the council’s written HMO standards for the number of sharers, and then price each item separately. With students as well as working sharers renting in Southampton, we plan bigger jobs for the gap between academic-year tenancies where we can.
- Area
- Hampshire, England
- Postcodes
- SO14 and SO15
- Location
- 43 miles south-west of Reading
- Council
- Southampton City Council
- Pricing region
- South East
What do professional and co-living HMO refurbs in Southampton involve?
- Ensuite to every room where space allows
- Sound insulation between rooms
- Kitchenettes in rooms where the layout allows
- Smart heating and lighting controls
- Bike and bin storage
Which rules apply in Southampton?
Here is what usually applies to a Southampton job of this kind. It is general information rather than legal advice, and the council’s written HMO standards have the final detail.
- Mandatory HMO licence for 5 or more people in 2 or more households (since October 2018); councils can add additional licensing for smaller HMOs.
- Licensed HMOs must meet national minimum bedroom sizes: 6.51 m² for one person aged 10 or over, 10.22 m² for two, and 4.64 m² for a child under 10.
- Council standards often step up at 5 and 6 sharers, for example a separate WC at 5 and a second bathroom from 6.
- The Fire Safety Order 2005 applies to the common parts of HMOs, enforced by the fire and rescue authority.
Southampton City Council: local HMO schemes
| Article 4 (HMO) | In force across the council area City-wide Article 4 Direction (C3 to C4) adopted 23 Mar 2012. |
|---|---|
| Additional licensing | In force in part of the council area Additional licensing in nine wards (Banister & Polygon, Bargate, Bassett, Bevois, Freemantle, Millbrook, Portswood, Shirley, Swaythling) 1 Oct 2025-30 Sep 2030. |
| Selective licensing | No scheme found |
Schemes change. Check the council’s current pages for the exact address in Southampton before you buy or start work. Source: Southampton City Council HMO licensing page, checked 2026-10-31.
How much do professional and co-living HMO refurbs cost in Southampton?
| 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 | £4,500 – £10,100 | letting room |
| Ensuite shower room added to a bedroom | £4,000 – £10,000 | £4,500 – £11,200 | ensuite |
| Communal HMO kitchen with extra cooking and sink capacity (our estimate from domestic ranges) | £8,000 – £18,000 | £8,950 – £20,150 | kitchen |
| Acoustic upgrade to a party or partition wall | £900 – £2,000 | £1,000 – £2,250 | wall |
These are typical ranges including VAT, adjusted for South East, where costs run above the UK average. The fixed price for a house in Southampton follows a site visit.
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.
For student houses in Southampton, booking by spring is the safest way to make the summer gap.
When do Southampton landlords need it?
We usually get the call when:
- Town-centre houses near transport links
- Larger houses with room for ensuites
Questions about professional and co-living HMO refurbs in Southampton
Do kitchenettes in rooms change the fire requirements?
Often, yes. Cooking in bedrooms usually means a heat detector in the room and a higher standard of fire separation. We plan it with the fire risk assessment and council standards.
Do you cover all of Southampton?
Yes. We work across Southampton and the SO14 and SO15 postcode areas, plus the rest of Hampshire. Nearby places we also cover include Hythe, Totton, Eastleigh.
Which council covers HMOs in Southampton?
Southampton is covered by Southampton 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 Southampton?
Our guide ranges for South East 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 Southampton
- Hythe · 3 mi
- Totton · 4 mi
- Eastleigh · 5 mi
- Fareham · 10 mi
- Cowes · 11 mi
- Winchester · 12 mi
- All of Hampshire
Other HMO services in Southampton
- Ensuite installation in Southampton
- Sound insulation in Southampton
- Communal kitchen refits in Southampton
- Bedroom upgrades and room refits in Southampton
- Large HMO conversions (7+ sharers) in Southampton
- EPC and energy upgrades in Southampton
- Extensions for extra rooms in Southampton
- Small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in Southampton