An HMO bedroom upgrade refits a letting room so it is more comfortable and easier to let: built-in storage, a proper desk space, better lighting and sockets, sound-reducing doors, durable flooring and fresh decoration. Brighton is 47 miles south of London. We price bedroom upgrades and room refits there against England’s HMO rules and the council’s written HMO standards, so work is planned to the standard an inspection looks for. Brighton has a university population, so many shared houses are let to students on yearly tenancies, and summer is the main window for works.
- Area
- East Sussex, England
- Postcodes
- BN1, BN2 and BN3
- Location
- 47 miles south of London
- Council
- Brighton & Hove City Council
- Pricing region
- South East
What do bedroom upgrades and room refits in Brighton involve?
- Desk area with sockets and USB points
- New fire door with closer where needed
- Fitted wardrobes and storage
- Lockable door hardware
- Sound-reducing measures
Which rules apply in Brighton?
Bedroom upgrades and room refits in Brighton 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:
- Licensed HMOs must meet national minimum bedroom sizes: 6.51 m² for one person aged 10 or over, 10.22 m² for two, and 4.64 m² for a child under 10.
- Smoke alarms on every storey with living accommodation and CO alarms by fixed combustion appliances (other than gas cookers) are required by law.
- 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.
- Floor area under a ceiling lower than 1.5 m does not count towards the room size, and many councils set larger sizes.
Brighton & Hove City Council: local HMO schemes
| Article 4 (HMO) | In force across the council area City-wide C3-C4 Article 4 Direction confirmed Jan 2020 and in force June 2020 (replaced the 2013 five-ward direction). |
|---|---|
| Additional licensing | In force across the council area Additional licensing across all 23 wards 1 Jul 2024-30 Jun 2029. |
| Selective licensing | In force in part of the council area Kemptown, Moulsecoomb & Bevendean, Queen's Park, Whitehawk & Marina 2 Sep 2024-1 Sep 2029. Central Hove & Regency designation (made 6 Jul 2026, due 20 Oct 2026) is paused pending a legal challenge. |
Schemes change. Check the council’s current pages for the exact address in Brighton before you buy or start work. Source: Brighton & Hove City Council HMO licensing page, checked 2026-10-31.
How much do bedroom upgrades and room refits cost in Brighton?
| Item | UK typical | Local guide | Per |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bedroom upgrade: fitted storage, desk, sockets, flooring, decoration (our estimate) | £1,500 – £4,500 | £1,700 – £5,050 | room |
| FD30S fire door leaf into an existing frame, with seals, closer and hinges, fitted | £300 – £600 | £340 – £670 | door |
| Acoustic upgrade to a party or partition wall | £900 – £2,000 | £1,000 – £2,250 | wall |
Use these as a starting point for budgeting. Access, condition and the council’s requirements in Brighton can move the figure either way, which is why we quote after seeing the house.
How long does it take?
Typical time on site: 2–5 working days per room. We agree the programme with you before starting and send photo updates as the work progresses.
If the house is let to students, we work backwards from the next tenancy start date in Brighton.
When do Brighton landlords need it?
Landlords in Brighton most often ask us for this when:
- Moving a house to professional sharers
- Rooms that are hard to let at the current rent
Questions about bedroom upgrades and room refits in Brighton
Can you add an ensuite at the same time?
Often, yes, if there is space and drainage can be reached. We check both at the survey.
Do you cover all of Brighton?
Yes. We work across Brighton and the BN1, BN2 and BN3 postcode areas, plus the rest of East Sussex. Nearby places we also cover include Hove, Portslade, Rottingdean.
Which council covers HMOs in Brighton?
Brighton is covered by Brighton & Hove 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 do bedroom upgrades and room refits cost in Brighton?
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.
Bedroom upgrades and room refits near Brighton
- Hove · 1 mi
- Portslade · 3 mi
- Rottingdean · 4 mi
- Burgess Hill · 9 mi
- Worthing · 10 mi
- Seaford · 11 mi
- All of East Sussex
Other HMO services in Brighton
- Ensuite installation in Brighton
- Void and between-tenancy refurbs in Brighton
- Professional and co-living HMO refurbs in Brighton
- Sound insulation in Brighton
- Rewires and EICR remedials in Brighton
- Full HMO refurbishment in Brighton
- Damp, mould and HHSRS repairs in Brighton
- EPC and energy upgrades in Brighton