A shared bathroom refit replaces worn or failing bathrooms in an HMO with hard-wearing, easy-clean ones: good extraction, waterproofing, thermostatic showers and finishes that stand up to several users a day. In Durham, a town of around 50,000 people, the work is planned around the HMO rules for England and the council’s written HMO standards. Durham has a university population, so many shared houses are let to students on yearly tenancies, and summer is the main window for works.
- Area
- County Durham, England
- Postcodes
- DH1
- Location
- 14 miles south of Newcastle upon Tyne
- Council
- Durham County Council
- Pricing region
- North East
What do shared bathroom and shower room refits in Durham involve?
- Wall panels or tiling
- Strip-out and repairs to floors and walls
- Slip-resistant flooring
- Thermostatic shower and bath or walk-in shower
- Heated towel rail and lighting
Which rules apply in Durham?
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 Durham before we price.
- Council standards often step up at 5 and 6 sharers, for example a separate WC at 5 and a second bathroom from 6.
- Councils can fine up to £7,000 where a Category 1 hazard is not removed when it reasonably could have been.
- BS 7671, the wiring standard, calls for arc fault detection devices in HMOs on new socket circuits, such as rewires and consumer unit changes.
Durham County Council: local HMO schemes
| Article 4 (HMO) | In force in part of the council area Directions cover Durham City and other named areas (2016-2022); extension to rest of county proposed. |
|---|---|
| Additional licensing | No scheme found |
| Selective licensing | In force in part of the council area Selective licensing in 103 designated areas 1 Apr 2022-31 Mar 2027; consultation on a replacement (87 postcodes, c.38% of PRS) closed 12 Aug 2026. |
Schemes change. Check the council’s current pages for the exact address in Durham before you buy or start work. Source: Durham County Council HMO licensing page, checked 2026-10-31.
How much do shared bathroom and shower room refits cost in Durham?
| Item | UK typical | Local guide | Per |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared bathroom refit | £5,500 – £9,000 | £5,050 – £8,300 | bathroom |
| Ensuite shower room added to a bedroom | £4,000 – £10,000 | £3,700 – £9,200 | ensuite |
| Mould treatment and making good | £250 – £500 | £230 – £460 | room |
Use these as a starting point for budgeting. Access, condition and the council’s requirements in Durham can move the figure either way, which is why we quote after seeing the house.
How long does it take?
Allow 5–10 working days on site for a typical job. Drawings, approvals and long-lead items such as kitchens or fire door sets are booked before we start.
For student houses in Durham, booking by spring is the safest way to make the summer gap.
When do Durham landlords need it?
We usually get the call when:
- Before a licence inspection
- Bathrooms that leak, smell or grow mould
Questions about shared bathroom and shower room refits in Durham
Will you work while tenants use the house?
Yes, if another bathroom is available. We plan the work so the house is never left without one.
Which postcodes in Durham do you work in?
All of them, including DH1, and the surrounding parts of County Durham.
Which council covers HMOs in Durham?
Durham is covered by Durham County Council. We read the council’s written HMO standards before pricing, and you should check the licence position for the exact address.
How much do shared bathroom and shower room refits cost in Durham?
Our guide ranges for North 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.
Shared bathroom and shower room refits near Durham
- Chester-le-Street · 6 mi
- Houghton-Le-Spring · 6 mi
- Stanley · 8 mi
- Washington · 9 mi
- Bishop Auckland · 9 mi
- Peterlee · 10 mi
- All of County Durham
Other HMO services in Durham
- Ensuite installation in Durham
- Damp, mould and HHSRS repairs in Durham
- Communal kitchen refits in Durham
- Void and between-tenancy refurbs in Durham
- Full HMO refurbishment in Durham
- Layout changes and room reconfiguration in Durham
- Licence condition and schedule-of-works in Durham
- Extensions for extra rooms in Durham