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 Manchester (M1, M2, M3 and M15) 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. With students as well as working sharers renting in Manchester, we plan bigger jobs for the gap between academic-year tenancies where we can.
- Area
- Greater Manchester, England
- Postcodes
- M1, M2, M3 and M15
- Council
- Manchester City Council
- Pricing region
- North West
What does full HMO refurbishment in Manchester involve?
- Heating and hot water upgrades
- Strip-out and making good
- Decoration, flooring and furniture-ready rooms
- Rewire or electrical upgrades
- Condition survey and schedule of works
Which rules apply in Manchester?
Full HMO refurbishment in Manchester must satisfy national law for England, the council’s written HMO standards and, where walls, drainage or fire separation change, the building rules. In short:
- 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.
Manchester City Council: local HMO schemes
| Article 4 (HMO) | In force across the council area City-wide Article 4 Direction (C3 to C4): planning permission needed to let a house to 3+ unrelated people; direction notice 8 Oct 2010, in force 8 Oct 2011. |
|---|---|
| Additional licensing | No scheme found |
| Selective licensing | In force in part of the council area Street-level selective licensing in parts of wards: 1 May 2022-30 Apr 2027 (Clayton & Openshaw, Gorton & Abbey Hey, Harpurhey); 9 Aug 2023-8 Aug 2028 (Longsight, Rusholme, Levenshulme, Moss Side, Whalley Range); from 24 Feb 2025 (parts of Cheetham, Crumpsall, Harpurhey, Longsight, Miles Platting & Newton Heath, Moss Side). |
Schemes change. Check the council’s current pages for the exact address in Manchester before you buy or start work. Source: Manchester City Council HMO licensing page, checked 2026-10-31.
How much does full HMO refurbishment cost in Manchester?
| 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 | £3,850 – £8,650 | letting room |
| Communal HMO kitchen with extra cooking and sink capacity (our estimate from domestic ranges) | £8,000 – £18,000 | £7,700 – £17,300 | kitchen |
| Shared bathroom refit | £5,500 – £9,000 | £5,300 – £8,650 | bathroom |
| Interlinked mains alarm system (Grade D type), small HMO (our estimate from installer guides) | £800 – £2,000 | £770 – £1,900 | house |
| Full rewire, 4–5 bedroom house | £6,000 – £12,000 | £5,750 – £11,500 | house |
Use these as a starting point for budgeting. Access, condition and the council’s requirements in Manchester can move the figure either way, which is why we quote after seeing the house.
How long does it take?
Most jobs of this kind take 4–12 weeks. If a council deadline applies in Manchester, tell us at the first call so the programme is built around it.
For student houses in Manchester, booking by spring is the safest way to make the summer gap.
When do Manchester landlords need it?
We usually get the call when:
- A council inspection or licence renewal has listed defects
- You have bought an existing HMO that needs work
Questions about full HMO refurbishment in Manchester
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 Manchester?
Yes. We work across Manchester and the M1, M2, M3 and M15 postcode areas, plus the rest of Greater Manchester. Nearby places we also cover include Salford, Old Trafford, Failsworth.
Which council covers HMOs in Manchester?
Manchester is covered by Manchester 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 Manchester?
Our guide ranges for North 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 Manchester
- Salford · 2 mi
- Old Trafford · 3 mi
- Failsworth · 3 mi
- Droylsden · 4 mi
- Stretford · 4 mi
- Eccles · 4 mi
- All of Greater Manchester
Other HMO services in Manchester
- Void and between-tenancy refurbs in Manchester
- HMO fire safety upgrades in Manchester
- Rewires and EICR remedials in Manchester
- Communal kitchen refits in Manchester
- Shared bathroom and shower room refits in Manchester
- Damp, mould and HHSRS repairs in Manchester
- Large HMO conversions (7+ sharers) in Manchester
- Fire alarm and detection systems in Manchester