Full HMO refurbishment across Dorset

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 Dorset, priced against the HMO rules for England and the council’s own standards.

Nation: England
Pricing region: South West
Postcode areas: DT, BH, SP, BA
Main towns: Bournemouth, Poole, Weymouth, Christchurch

What does full HMO refurbishment in Dorset involve?

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

Which rules apply in Dorset?

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.
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 Dorset?

Regional adjustment for South West. 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	£4,150 – £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

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

Full HMO refurbishment by town in Dorset

Questions about full HMO refurbishment in Dorset

How much does a full HMO refurbishment cost?

It depends on size and condition. Our guide prices page shows typical UK ranges per room and per square metre, and we give a fixed written quote after a site visit.

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 Dorset?

Yes, across the whole of Dorset, including Bournemouth, Poole, Weymouth.

Who licenses HMOs in Dorset?

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