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. For a house in Durham we start with a measured survey, check the council’s written HMO standards for the number of sharers, and then price each item separately. With students as well as working sharers renting in Durham, we plan bigger jobs for the gap between academic-year tenancies where we can.
- Area
- County Durham, England
- Postcodes
- DH1
- Location
- 14 miles south of Newcastle upon Tyne
- Council
- Durham County Council
- Pricing region
- North East
What does full HMO refurbishment in Durham involve?
- Fire doors, detection and escape route upgrades
- Rewire or electrical upgrades
- New or refitted kitchens and bathrooms
- Heating and hot water upgrades
- Decoration, flooring and furniture-ready rooms
Which rules apply in Durham?
Here is what usually applies to a Durham 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.
- National rules ask for an adequate number of bathrooms, WCs and basins and suitably located kitchens; numeric ratios are set by each council.
- The Fire Safety Order 2005 applies to the common parts of HMOs, enforced by the fire and rescue authority.
- 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.
Durham County Council: local HMO schemes
| Article 4 (HMO) | In force in part of the council area Directions cover Durham City and other named areas (2016-2022); extension to rest of county proposed. |
|---|---|
| Additional licensing | No scheme found |
| Selective licensing | In force in part of the council area Selective licensing in 103 designated areas 1 Apr 2022-31 Mar 2027; consultation on a replacement (87 postcodes, c.38% of PRS) closed 12 Aug 2026. |
Schemes change. Check the council’s current pages for the exact address in Durham before you buy or start work. Source: Durham County Council HMO licensing page, checked 2026-10-31.
How much does full HMO refurbishment cost in Durham?
| 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 |
These are typical ranges including VAT, adjusted for North East, where costs run below the UK average. The fixed price for a house in Durham follows a site visit.
How long does it take?
Allow 4–12 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.
For student houses in Durham, booking by spring is the safest way to make the summer gap.
When do Durham landlords need it?
Landlords in Durham most often ask us for this when:
- You have bought an existing HMO that needs work
- A council inspection or licence renewal has listed defects
Questions about full HMO refurbishment in Durham
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 cover all of Durham?
Yes. We work across Durham and the DH1 postcode areas, plus the rest of County Durham. Nearby places we also cover include Chester-le-Street, Houghton-Le-Spring, Stanley.
Which council covers HMOs in Durham?
Durham is covered by Durham County 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 full HMO refurbishment cost in Durham?
Our guide ranges for North 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.
Full HMO refurbishment near Durham
- Chester-le-Street · 6 mi
- Houghton-Le-Spring · 6 mi
- Stanley · 8 mi
- Washington · 9 mi
- Bishop Auckland · 9 mi
- Peterlee · 10 mi
- All of County Durham
Other HMO services in Durham
- Void and between-tenancy refurbs in Durham
- HMO fire safety upgrades in Durham
- Rewires and EICR remedials in Durham
- Communal kitchen refits in Durham
- Shared bathroom and shower room refits in Durham
- Damp, mould and HHSRS repairs in Durham
- Loft conversions for extra rooms in Durham
- Professional and co-living HMO refurbs in Durham