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. Landlords in Exeter (EX2 and EX4) usually come to us with a council letter, a fire risk assessment or a house they have just bought. We price from whichever you have. Exeter has a university population, so many shared houses are let to students on yearly tenancies, and summer is the main window for works.
- Area
- Devon, England
- Postcodes
- EX2 and EX4
- Location
- 36 miles north-east of Plymouth
- Council
- Exeter City Council
- Pricing region
- South West
What does full HMO refurbishment in Exeter involve?
- Decoration, flooring and furniture-ready rooms
- Rewire or electrical upgrades
- Strip-out and making good
- Heating and hot water upgrades
- Damp and mould repairs
Which rules apply in Exeter?
The rules below are the England-wide position for this kind of work. Councils add their own standards and schemes on top, so we always check the address in Exeter before we price.
- Under the Renters’ Rights Act, civil penalties reach £40,000 for offences such as running an unlicensed HMO.
- Council standards often step up at 5 and 6 sharers, for example a separate WC at 5 and a second bathroom from 6.
- Smoke alarms on every storey with living accommodation and CO alarms by fixed combustion appliances (other than gas cookers) are required by law.
- BS 7671, the wiring standard, calls for arc fault detection devices in HMOs on new socket circuits, such as rewires and consumer unit changes.
Exeter City Council: local HMO schemes
| Article 4 (HMO) | In force in part of the council area New, larger Article 4 Direction (around the city centre and university) confirmed 28 Mar 2024, in effect 23 Dec 2024, replacing the 2010 direction. |
|---|---|
| Additional licensing | No scheme found |
| Selective licensing | No scheme found |
Schemes change. Check the council’s current pages for the exact address in Exeter before you buy or start work. Source: Exeter City Council HMO licensing page, checked 2026-10-31.
How much does full HMO refurbishment cost in Exeter?
| 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 | £4,150 – £9,350 | letting room |
| Communal HMO kitchen with extra cooking and sink capacity (our estimate from domestic ranges) | £8,000 – £18,000 | £8,300 – £18,700 | kitchen |
| Shared bathroom refit | £5,500 – £9,000 | £5,700 – £9,350 | bathroom |
| Interlinked mains alarm system (Grade D type), small HMO (our estimate from installer guides) | £800 – £2,000 | £830 – £2,100 | house |
| Full rewire, 4–5 bedroom house | £6,000 – £12,000 | £6,250 – £12,500 | house |
Use these as a starting point for budgeting. Access, condition and the council’s requirements in Exeter can move the figure either way, which is why we quote after seeing the house.
How long does it take?
Typical time on site: 4–12 weeks. We agree the programme with you before starting and send photo updates as the work progresses.
For student houses in Exeter, booking by spring is the safest way to make the summer gap.
When do Exeter landlords need it?
Typical reasons for this work in Exeter:
- You have bought an existing HMO that needs work
- A house that has been let hard for years
Questions about full HMO refurbishment in Exeter
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.
Which postcodes in Exeter do you work in?
All of them, including EX2 and EX4, and the surrounding parts of Devon.
Which council covers HMOs in Exeter?
Exeter is covered by Exeter City 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 Exeter?
Our guide ranges for South West 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 Exeter
- Heavitree · 1 mi
- Exmouth · 9 mi
- Tiverton · 12 mi
- Newton Abbot · 14 mi
- Torquay · 18 mi
- Paignton · 20 mi
- All of Devon
Other HMO services in Exeter
- Void and between-tenancy refurbs in Exeter
- HMO fire safety upgrades in Exeter
- Rewires and EICR remedials in Exeter
- Communal kitchen refits in Exeter
- Shared bathroom and shower room refits in Exeter
- Damp, mould and HHSRS repairs in Exeter
- Ensuite installation in Exeter
- Commercial and above-shop to HMO in Exeter