Full HMO refurbishment across Berkshire

In short: A full HMO refurbishment brings a tired or non-compliant shared house back up to standard in one project: strip-out, repairs, new kitchens and bathrooms, fire safety, electrics, heating, decoration and flooring. We carry this out across Berkshire, priced against the HMO rules for England and the council’s own standards.

Nation: England
Pricing region: South East
Postcode areas: RG, SL, OX, GU
Main towns: Reading, Slough, Bracknell, Maidenhead, Wokingham

What does full HMO refurbishment in Berkshire involve?

Strip-out and making good
Heating and hot water upgrades
Decoration, flooring and furniture-ready rooms
Fire doors, detection and escape route upgrades
New or refitted kitchens and bathrooms
Condition survey and schedule of works

Which rules apply in Berkshire?

Mandatory HMO licence for 5 or more people in 2 or more households (since October 2018); councils can add additional licensing for smaller HMOs.
Council standards often step up at 5 and 6 sharers, for example a separate WC at 5 and a second bathroom from 6.
Fire precautions follow a risk assessment; the LACORS Housing – Fire Safety guide (2008) is guidance, not law, but many councils base their standards on it.
Electrical installations must be inspected and tested at least every 5 years; remedial work is due within 28 days, or sooner if the report says so.
Councils can fine up to £7,000 where a Category 1 hazard is not removed when it reasonably could have been.

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 full HMO refurbishment cost in Berkshire?

Regional adjustment for South East. Planning budgets: see our prices page.
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
Communal HMO kitchen with extra cooking and sink capacity (our estimate from domestic ranges)	£8,000 – £18,000	£8,950 – £20,150	kitchen
Shared bathroom refit	£5,500 – £9,000	£6,150 – £10,100	bathroom
Interlinked mains alarm system (Grade D type), small HMO (our estimate from installer guides)	£800 – £2,000	£900 – £2,250	house
Full rewire, 4–5 bedroom house	£6,000 – £12,000	£6,700 – £13,450	house

Typical time on site: 4–12 weeks. For a figure for your house, try the guide-price tool.

Full HMO refurbishment by town in Berkshire

Questions about full HMO refurbishment in Berkshire

Do you provide certificates at the end?

Yes: electrical and fire alarm certificates, and building control completion where it applies.

Will you deal with the council’s list of works?

Yes. If you have a schedule of works or an improvement notice, we price against it item by item and give you evidence of completion.

Do you carry out full HMO refurbishment across Berkshire?

Yes, across the whole of Berkshire, including Reading, Slough, Bracknell.

Who licenses HMOs in Berkshire?

HMOs in Berkshire are licensed by the local council for the address. Where an area has several councils, each runs its own licensing and planning policies.