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. Southampton is 43 miles south-west of Reading. We price full HMO refurbishment there against England’s HMO rules and the council’s written HMO standards, so work is planned to the standard an inspection looks for. With students as well as working sharers renting in Southampton, we plan bigger jobs for the gap between academic-year tenancies where we can.
- Area
- Hampshire, England
- Postcodes
- SO14 and SO15
- Location
- 43 miles south-west of Reading
- Council
- Southampton City Council
- Pricing region
- South East
What does full HMO refurbishment in Southampton involve?
- New or refitted kitchens and bathrooms
- Condition survey and schedule of works
- Damp and mould repairs
- Strip-out and making good
- Heating and hot water upgrades
Which rules apply in Southampton?
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 Southampton before we price.
- 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.
- BS 7671, the wiring standard, calls for arc fault detection devices in HMOs on new socket circuits, such as rewires and consumer unit changes.
Southampton City Council: local HMO schemes
| Article 4 (HMO) | In force across the council area City-wide Article 4 Direction (C3 to C4) adopted 23 Mar 2012. |
|---|---|
| Additional licensing | In force in part of the council area Additional licensing in nine wards (Banister & Polygon, Bargate, Bassett, Bevois, Freemantle, Millbrook, Portswood, Shirley, Swaythling) 1 Oct 2025-30 Sep 2030. |
| Selective licensing | No scheme found |
Schemes change. Check the council’s current pages for the exact address in Southampton before you buy or start work. Source: Southampton City Council HMO licensing page, checked 2026-10-31.
How much does full HMO refurbishment cost in Southampton?
| 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 | £4,500 – £10,100 | letting room |
| Communal HMO kitchen with extra cooking and sink capacity (our estimate from domestic ranges) | £8,000 – £18,000 | £8,950 – £20,150 | kitchen |
| Shared bathroom refit | £5,500 – £9,000 | £6,150 – £10,100 | bathroom |
| Interlinked mains alarm system (Grade D type), small HMO (our estimate from installer guides) | £800 – £2,000 | £900 – £2,250 | house |
| Full rewire, 4–5 bedroom house | £6,000 – £12,000 | £6,700 – £13,450 | house |
Prices in Southampton are shown with our regional adjustment for South East (above the UK average). Your quote is itemised and fixed in writing once the scope and specification are agreed.
How long does it take?
Most jobs of this kind take 4–12 weeks. If a council deadline applies in Southampton, tell us at the first call so the programme is built around it.
If the house is let to students, we work backwards from the next tenancy start date in Southampton.
When do Southampton 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 Southampton
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 Southampton do you work in?
All of them, including SO14 and SO15, and the surrounding parts of Hampshire.
Which council covers HMOs in Southampton?
Southampton is covered by Southampton 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 Southampton?
Our guide ranges for South 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 Southampton
- Hythe · 3 mi
- Totton · 4 mi
- Eastleigh · 5 mi
- Fareham · 10 mi
- Cowes · 11 mi
- Winchester · 12 mi
- All of Hampshire
Other HMO services in Southampton
- Void and between-tenancy refurbs in Southampton
- HMO fire safety upgrades in Southampton
- Rewires and EICR remedials in Southampton
- Communal kitchen refits in Southampton
- Shared bathroom and shower room refits in Southampton
- Damp, mould and HHSRS repairs in Southampton
- Licence condition and schedule-of-works in Southampton
- Ensuite installation in Southampton