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. For a house in Brighton we start with a measured survey, check the council’s written HMO standards for the number of sharers, and then price each item separately. Brighton has a university population, so many shared houses are let to students on yearly tenancies, and summer is the main window for works.
- Area
- East Sussex, England
- Postcodes
- BN1, BN2 and BN3
- Location
- 47 miles south of London
- Council
- Brighton & Hove City Council
- Pricing region
- South East
What does commercial and above-shop to HMO in Brighton involve?
- New kitchens, bathrooms and ensuites
- Fire separation between the commercial unit and the homes above
- New electrics, heating and ventilation
- Coordination with planning and building control
- Survey of structure, services and access
Which rules apply in Brighton?
Here is what usually applies to a Brighton 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.
- A conversion can be a material change of use under the building regulations, so confirm with building control before work starts.
- Smoke alarms on every storey with living accommodation and CO alarms by fixed combustion appliances (other than gas cookers) are required by law.
Brighton & Hove City Council: local HMO schemes
| Article 4 (HMO) | In force across the council area City-wide C3-C4 Article 4 Direction confirmed Jan 2020 and in force June 2020 (replaced the 2013 five-ward direction). |
|---|---|
| Additional licensing | In force across the council area Additional licensing across all 23 wards 1 Jul 2024-30 Jun 2029. |
| Selective licensing | In force in part of the council area Kemptown, Moulsecoomb & Bevendean, Queen's Park, Whitehawk & Marina 2 Sep 2024-1 Sep 2029. Central Hove & Regency designation (made 6 Jul 2026, due 20 Oct 2026) is paused pending a legal challenge. |
Schemes change. Check the council’s current pages for the exact address in Brighton before you buy or start work. Source: Brighton & Hove City Council HMO licensing page, checked 2026-10-31.
How much does commercial and above-shop to HMO cost in Brighton?
| 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 | £3,900 – £7,300 | letting room |
| Panel alarm system (Grade A type), larger HMO | £1,750 – £4,500 | £1,950 – £5,050 | house |
| Acoustic ceiling or floor upgrade, 12–15 m² | £800 – £2,700 | £900 – £3,000 | room |
| Communal HMO kitchen with extra cooking and sink capacity (our estimate from domestic ranges) | £8,000 – £18,000 | £8,950 – £20,150 | kitchen |
| Ensuite shower room added to a bedroom | £4,000 – £10,000 | £4,500 – £11,200 | ensuite |
These are typical ranges including VAT, adjusted for South East, where costs run above the UK average. The fixed price for a house in Brighton follows a site visit.
How long does it take?
Allow 12–24 weeks on site for a typical job. Drawings, approvals and long-lead items such as kitchens or fire door sets are booked before we start.
If the house is let to students, we work backwards from the next tenancy start date in Brighton.
When do Brighton landlords need it?
Landlords in Brighton 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 Brighton
Do you work on listed or conservation area buildings?
Yes, with the right consents in place. Older high street buildings often need extra care with windows, fire upgrades and sound insulation.
Do you cover all of Brighton?
Yes. We work across Brighton and the BN1, BN2 and BN3 postcode areas, plus the rest of East Sussex. Nearby places we also cover include Hove, Portslade, Rottingdean.
Which council covers HMOs in Brighton?
Brighton is covered by Brighton & Hove 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 does commercial and above-shop to HMO cost in Brighton?
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.
Commercial and above-shop to HMO near Brighton
- Hove · 1 mi
- Portslade · 3 mi
- Rottingdean · 4 mi
- Burgess Hill · 9 mi
- Worthing · 10 mi
- Seaford · 11 mi
- All of East Sussex
Other HMO services in Brighton
- Large HMO conversions (7+ sharers) in Brighton
- Escape routes, emergency lighting and fire stopping in Brighton
- Sound insulation in Brighton
- EPC and energy upgrades in Brighton
- Rewires and EICR remedials in Brighton
- Layout changes and room reconfiguration in Brighton
- Communal kitchen refits in Brighton
- Damp, mould and HHSRS repairs in Brighton