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. Across North Ayrshire, the work is planned around Scotland’s HMO rules and the standards the local council publishes.
- Nation
- Scotland
- Pricing region
- Scotland
- Postcode areas
- KA, PA
- Main towns
- Irvine, Kilwinning, Saltcoats
What do professional and co-living HMO refurbs in North Ayrshire involve?
- High-quality fire doors and finishes
- Smart heating and lighting controls
- Sound insulation between rooms
- Kitchenettes in rooms where the layout allows
- Ensuite to every room where space allows
- Interior design and furnishing coordination
Which rules apply in North Ayrshire?
- Every HMO needs a council licence: 3 or more people who are not all from one or two families, sharing basic amenities. Licences last up to 3 years.
- Room sizes are set by each council; East Lothian, for example, uses 6.5 m² for a single room with a shared lounge and kitchen, and 10 m² without.
- Kitchen, WC and bathroom ratios come from council standards; one WC and one bath or shower per 5 people is a common figure.
- The tolerable standard requires interlinked smoke alarms in the main living room and circulation spaces and a heat alarm in the kitchen; licensed HMOs must meet the council’s higher standard.
- Building standards apply to new partitions and conversions, and councils may set expectations through licence conditions.
Scottish councils set their own HMO licence standards and planning policies. Every HMO needs a licence, so check the council’s standards before you design the layout.
How much do professional and co-living HMO refurbs cost in North Ayrshire?
| 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 | £3,800 – £8,550 | letting room |
| Ensuite shower room added to a bedroom | £4,000 – £10,000 | £3,800 – £9,500 | ensuite |
| Communal HMO kitchen with extra cooking and sink capacity (our estimate from domestic ranges) | £8,000 – £18,000 | £7,600 – £17,100 | kitchen |
| Acoustic upgrade to a party or partition wall | £900 – £2,000 | £860 – £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 North Ayrshire
Questions about professional and co-living HMO refurbs in North Ayrshire
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.
Do you do the interior design?
We coordinate finishes and fittings with you, and can work with your interior designer or furnishing supplier.
Do you carry out professional and co-living HMO refurbs across North Ayrshire?
Yes, across the whole of North Ayrshire, including Irvine, Kilwinning, Saltcoats.
Who licenses HMOs in North Ayrshire?
North Ayrshire council licenses HMOs in its area. Every HMO in Scotland needs a licence.
Other HMO services in North Ayrshire
- Ensuite installation in North Ayrshire
- Sound insulation in North Ayrshire
- Communal kitchen refits in North Ayrshire
- Bedroom upgrades and room refits in North Ayrshire
- Large HMO conversions (7+ sharers) in North Ayrshire
- EPC and energy upgrades in North Ayrshire
- Rewires and EICR remedials in North Ayrshire
- Loft conversions for extra rooms in North Ayrshire