Full HMO refurbishment across County Durham

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. Across County Durham, the work is planned around England’s HMO rules and the standards the local council publishes.

Nation: England
Pricing region: North East
Postcode areas: DL, DH, TS, SR
Main towns: Darlington, Hartlepool, Stockton-on-Tees, Durham, Chester-le-Street

What does full HMO refurbishment in County Durham involve?

Condition survey and schedule of works
Damp and mould repairs
Heating and hot water upgrades
New or refitted kitchens and bathrooms
Decoration, flooring and furniture-ready rooms
Strip-out and making good

Which rules apply in County Durham?

Licences last up to 5 years and carry conditions on gas and electrical safety, alarms, room sizes and waste.
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 County Durham?

Regional adjustment for North 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	£3,700 – £8,300	letting room
Communal HMO kitchen with extra cooking and sink capacity (our estimate from domestic ranges)	£8,000 – £18,000	£7,350 – £16,550	kitchen
Shared bathroom refit	£5,500 – £9,000	£5,050 – £8,300	bathroom
Interlinked mains alarm system (Grade D type), small HMO (our estimate from installer guides)	£800 – £2,000	£740 – £1,850	house
Full rewire, 4–5 bedroom house	£6,000 – £12,000	£5,500 – £11,050	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 County Durham

Questions about full HMO refurbishment in County Durham

Do you provide certificates at the end?

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

Can you refurbish an HMO while tenants live there?

Sometimes, room by room, with the escape route kept clear and the fire alarm working at all times. For heavier work it is usually quicker and safer to do it with the house empty. We plan the phasing with you.

Do you carry out full HMO refurbishment across County Durham?

Yes, across the whole of County Durham, including Darlington, Hartlepool, Stockton-on-Tees.

Who licenses HMOs in County Durham?

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