A commercial to HMO conversion turns space that was never a home, such as upper floors over shops or small office buildings, into shared accommodation. Bournemouth is 24 miles south-west of Southampton. We price commercial and above-shop to HMO 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 Bournemouth, we plan bigger jobs for the gap between academic-year tenancies where we can.
- Area
- Dorset, England
- Postcodes
- BH1, BH2, BH7 and BH10
- Location
- 24 miles south-west of Southampton
- Pricing region
- South West
What does commercial and above-shop to HMO in Bournemouth involve?
- Separate entrance and protected escape route
- Sound insulation to floors and party walls
- Windows and thermal upgrades
- Survey of structure, services and access
- Fire separation between the commercial unit and the homes above
Which rules apply in Bournemouth?
Here is what usually applies to a Bournemouth job of this kind. It is general information rather than legal advice, and the council’s written HMO standards have the final detail.
- Licences last up to 5 years and carry conditions on gas and electrical safety, alarms, room sizes and waste.
- 7 or more sharers is a sui generis large HMO and normally needs planning permission.
- Building regulations cover structural changes, new partitions, ensuite drainage, fire-resisting construction and notifiable electrical work.
- Smoke alarms on every storey with living accommodation and CO alarms by fixed combustion appliances (other than gas cookers) are required by law.
How much does commercial and above-shop to HMO cost in Bournemouth?
| Item | UK typical | Local guide | Per |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conversion works per letting room (walls, linings, electrics, decoration; excludes kitchens, bathrooms and fire systems; our estimate) | £3,500 – £6,500 | £3,650 – £6,750 | letting room |
| Panel alarm system (Grade A type), larger HMO | £1,750 – £4,500 | £1,800 – £4,700 | house |
| Acoustic ceiling or floor upgrade, 12–15 m² | £800 – £2,700 | £830 – £2,800 | room |
| Communal HMO kitchen with extra cooking and sink capacity (our estimate from domestic ranges) | £8,000 – £18,000 | £8,300 – £18,700 | kitchen |
| Ensuite shower room added to a bedroom | £4,000 – £10,000 | £4,150 – £10,400 | ensuite |
These are typical ranges including VAT, adjusted for South West, where costs run above the UK average. The fixed price for a house in Bournemouth follows a site visit.
How long does it take?
Typical time on site: 12–24 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 Bournemouth.
When do Bournemouth landlords need it?
Landlords in Bournemouth most often ask us for this when:
- Empty upper floors above a shop you own
- A small office building with planning for residential use
Questions about commercial and above-shop to HMO in Bournemouth
What about the shop below?
The homes above must be separated from the commercial unit by fire-resisting construction, and the escape route must not pass through the shop. We design the separation as part of the building control application.
How far do you travel from Bournemouth?
We cover the whole of Dorset and work UK-wide. For Bournemouth the nearest towns on our list are Christchurch (4 miles), Poole (5 miles), New Milton (10 miles).
Where do I check the HMO rules for an address in Bournemouth?
With the local council for the address. Councils in England can add additional licensing and Article 4 directions on top of the national rules. Check the council’s website for the exact address before you buy or start work.
How much does commercial and above-shop to HMO cost in Bournemouth?
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.
Commercial and above-shop to HMO near Bournemouth
- Christchurch · 4 mi
- Poole · 5 mi
- New Milton · 10 mi
- Totton · 22 mi
- Hythe · 23 mi
- Southampton · 24 mi
- All of Dorset
Other HMO services in Bournemouth
- Large HMO conversions (7+ sharers) in Bournemouth
- Escape routes, emergency lighting and fire stopping in Bournemouth
- Sound insulation in Bournemouth
- EPC and energy upgrades in Bournemouth
- Rewires and EICR remedials in Bournemouth
- Layout changes and room reconfiguration in Bournemouth
- Student HMO refurbishment in Bournemouth
- Void and between-tenancy refurbs in Bournemouth