Full HMO refurbishment across Hertfordshire

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. In Hertfordshire we survey first, price each item separately and hand over the certificates and photos a council asks for.

Nation: England
Pricing region: East of England
Postcode areas: SG, AL, WD, HP
Main towns: Watford, Hemel Hempstead, Stevenage, St Albans, Welwyn Garden City

What does full HMO refurbishment in Hertfordshire involve?

Decoration, flooring and furniture-ready rooms
Rewire or electrical upgrades
Fire doors, detection and escape route upgrades
Damp and mould repairs
Heating and hot water upgrades
New or refitted kitchens and bathrooms

Which rules apply in Hertfordshire?

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.
The Fire Safety Order 2005 applies to the common parts of HMOs, enforced by the fire and rescue authority.
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 assess hazards, including damp, mould and fire, under the HHSRS; revised regulations and guidance applied from 23 June 2026.

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 Hertfordshire?

Regional adjustment for East of England. 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	£4,250 – £9,550	letting room
Communal HMO kitchen with extra cooking and sink capacity (our estimate from domestic ranges)	£8,000 – £18,000	£8,500 – £19,100	kitchen
Shared bathroom refit	£5,500 – £9,000	£5,850 – £9,550	bathroom
Interlinked mains alarm system (Grade D type), small HMO (our estimate from installer guides)	£800 – £2,000	£850 – £2,100	house
Full rewire, 4–5 bedroom house	£6,000 – £12,000	£6,350 – £12,700	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 Hertfordshire

Questions about full HMO refurbishment in Hertfordshire

Do you provide certificates at the end?

Yes: electrical and fire alarm certificates, and building control completion where it applies.

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 carry out full HMO refurbishment across Hertfordshire?

Yes, across the whole of Hertfordshire, including Watford, Hemel Hempstead, Stevenage.

Who licenses HMOs in Hertfordshire?

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