Full HMO refurbishment across Cardiff

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. In Cardiff we survey first, price each item separately and hand over the certificates and photos a council asks for.

Nation: Wales
Pricing region: Wales
Postcode areas: CF
Main towns: Cardiff, Whitchurch

What does full HMO refurbishment in Cardiff involve?

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

Which rules apply in Cardiff?

Landlords must register with Rent Smart Wales, and those who manage their own lets need a Rent Smart Wales licence.
Kitchen and bathroom ratios are set in each council’s HMO standards.
Council HMO standards and the fire risk assessment set detection, fire doors and escape routes.
An electrical inspection and test at least every 5 years, with the report given to the contract-holder within 14 days.
Councils assess hazards, including damp and mould, under the HHSRS, alongside the fitness for human habitation rules for occupation contracts.

Cardiff Council: local HMO schemes

Additional licensing	In force in part of the council area Cathays: 1 Feb 2023 to 1 Feb 2028. Plasnewydd had a scheme from 1 Jan 2021; check with Cardiff Council whether it has been renewed.
Selective licensing	No scheme found

Schemes change. Check the council’s current pages for the exact address in Cardiff before you buy or start work. Source: Cardiff Council HMO licensing page, checked 2026-10-31.

How much does full HMO refurbishment cost in Cardiff?

Regional adjustment for Wales. 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	£3,750 – £8,450	letting room
Communal HMO kitchen with extra cooking and sink capacity (our estimate from domestic ranges)	£8,000 – £18,000	£7,500 – £16,900	kitchen
Shared bathroom refit	£5,500 – £9,000	£5,150 – £8,450	bathroom
Interlinked mains alarm system (Grade D type), small HMO (our estimate from installer guides)	£800 – £2,000	£750 – £1,900	house
Full rewire, 4–5 bedroom house	£6,000 – £12,000	£5,650 – £11,300	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 Cardiff

Questions about full HMO refurbishment in Cardiff

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 provide certificates at the end?

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

Do you carry out full HMO refurbishment across Cardiff?

Yes, across the whole of Cardiff, including Cardiff, Whitchurch.

Who licenses HMOs in Cardiff?

Cardiff council licenses HMOs in its area. Landlords must also register with Rent Smart Wales.