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 Preston, a city of around 300,000 people in Lancashire, the work is planned around the HMO rules for England and the council’s written HMO standards. Preston has a university population, so many shared houses are let to students on yearly tenancies, and summer is the main window for works.
- Area
- Lancashire, England
- Postcodes
- PR0, PR1 and PR11
- Location
- 27 miles north-east of Liverpool
- Council
- Preston City Council
- Pricing region
- North West
What does full HMO refurbishment in Preston involve?
- Rewire or electrical upgrades
- New or refitted kitchens and bathrooms
- Damp and mould repairs
- Heating and hot water upgrades
- Strip-out and making good
Which rules apply in Preston?
Full HMO refurbishment in Preston 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:
- Mandatory HMO licence for 5 or more people in 2 or more households (since October 2018); councils can add additional licensing for smaller HMOs.
- 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.
Preston City Council: local HMO schemes
| Article 4 (HMO) | In force in part of the council area Existing direction for defined areas (2012). New direction covering Preston's main urban area (consulted Feb-Mar 2026) due to take effect Feb 2027. |
|---|---|
| Additional licensing | Not confirmed: check with the council |
| Selective licensing | Proposed Proposed selective licensing for City Centre, St Matthew's and Plungington wards; consultation closed 11 Oct 2026, no decision yet. |
Schemes change. Check the council’s current pages for the exact address in Preston before you buy or start work. Source: Preston City Council HMO licensing page, checked 2026-10-31.
How much does full HMO refurbishment cost in Preston?
| 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 |
These are typical ranges including VAT, adjusted for North West, where costs run below the UK average. The fixed price for a house in Preston follows a site visit.
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 Preston, booking by spring is the safest way to make the summer gap.
When do Preston 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 Preston
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.
Do you cover all of Preston?
Yes. We work across Preston and the PR0, PR1 and PR11 postcode areas, plus the rest of Lancashire. Nearby places we also cover include Leyland, Chorley, Blackburn.
Which council covers HMOs in Preston?
Preston is covered by Preston 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 Preston?
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 Preston
- Leyland · 5 mi
- Chorley · 9 mi
- Blackburn · 9 mi
- Fylde · 10 mi
- Darwen · 11 mi
- Lytham St Annes · 12 mi
- All of Lancashire
Other HMO services in Preston
- Void and between-tenancy refurbs in Preston
- HMO fire safety upgrades in Preston
- Rewires and EICR remedials in Preston
- Communal kitchen refits in Preston
- Shared bathroom and shower room refits in Preston
- Damp, mould and HHSRS repairs in Preston
- Escape routes, emergency lighting and fire stopping in Preston
- EPC and energy upgrades in Preston