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. In Caterham, a town of about 21,000 people in Surrey, the work is planned around the HMO rules for England and the council’s written HMO standards.
- Area
- Surrey, England
- Postcodes
- CR3
- Location
- 16 miles south of London
- Pricing region
- South East
What does commercial and above-shop to HMO in Caterham involve?
- Windows and thermal upgrades
- New kitchens, bathrooms and ensuites
- Coordination with planning and building control
- Separate entrance and protected escape route
- New electrics, heating and ventilation
Which rules apply in Caterham?
Here is what usually applies to a Caterham 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.
- 3–6 unrelated sharers is use class C4; changing from a family house is usually permitted development unless an Article 4 direction applies.
- A conversion can be a material change of use under the building regulations, so confirm with building control before work starts.
- The Fire Safety Order 2005 applies to the common parts of HMOs, enforced by the fire and rescue authority.
How much does commercial and above-shop to HMO cost in Caterham?
| 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 Caterham 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.
When do Caterham landlords need it?
Typical reasons for this work in Caterham:
- 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 Caterham
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 Caterham?
We cover the whole of Surrey and work UK-wide. For Caterham the nearest towns on our list are Coulsdon (4 miles), Purley (4 miles), Redhill (5 miles).
Does a shared house in Caterham need an HMO licence?
In England, a mandatory licence is needed for 5 or more people from 2 or more households. Smaller HMOs can need a licence where the council runs additional licensing, which is common in towns with many shared houses. Check the council’s website for the address.
How much does commercial and above-shop to HMO cost in Caterham?
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 Caterham
- Coulsdon · 4 mi
- Purley · 4 mi
- Redhill · 5 mi
- South Croydon · 6 mi
- Banstead · 6 mi
- Reigate · 6 mi
- All of Surrey
Other HMO services in Caterham
- Large HMO conversions (7+ sharers) in Caterham
- Escape routes, emergency lighting and fire stopping in Caterham
- Sound insulation in Caterham
- EPC and energy upgrades in Caterham
- Rewires and EICR remedials in Caterham
- Layout changes and room reconfiguration in Caterham
- Communal kitchen refits in Caterham
- Bedroom upgrades and room refits in Caterham