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. In Manchester, a city of around 550,000 people, the work is planned around the HMO rules for England and the council’s written HMO standards. With students as well as working sharers renting in Manchester, we plan bigger jobs for the gap between academic-year tenancies where we can.
- Area
- Greater Manchester, England
- Postcodes
- M1, M2, M3 and M15
- Council
- Manchester City Council
- Pricing region
- North West
What do bedroom upgrades and room refits in Manchester involve?
- Desk area with sockets and USB points
- Lockable door hardware
- New fire door with closer where needed
- LED lighting and dimmers
- Fitted wardrobes and storage
Which rules apply in Manchester?
Here is what usually applies to a Manchester job of this kind. It is general information rather than legal advice, and the council’s written HMO standards have the final detail.
- 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.
Manchester City Council: local HMO schemes
| Article 4 (HMO) | In force across the council area City-wide Article 4 Direction (C3 to C4): planning permission needed to let a house to 3+ unrelated people; direction notice 8 Oct 2010, in force 8 Oct 2011. |
|---|---|
| Additional licensing | No scheme found |
| Selective licensing | In force in part of the council area Street-level selective licensing in parts of wards: 1 May 2022-30 Apr 2027 (Clayton & Openshaw, Gorton & Abbey Hey, Harpurhey); 9 Aug 2023-8 Aug 2028 (Longsight, Rusholme, Levenshulme, Moss Side, Whalley Range); from 24 Feb 2025 (parts of Cheetham, Crumpsall, Harpurhey, Longsight, Miles Platting & Newton Heath, Moss Side). |
Schemes change. Check the council’s current pages for the exact address in Manchester before you buy or start work. Source: Manchester City Council HMO licensing page, checked 2026-10-31.
How much do bedroom upgrades and room refits cost in Manchester?
| Item | UK typical | Local guide | Per |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bedroom upgrade: fitted storage, desk, sockets, flooring, decoration (our estimate) | £1,500 – £4,500 | £1,450 – £4,300 | room |
| FD30S fire door leaf into an existing frame, with seals, closer and hinges, fitted | £300 – £600 | £290 – £580 | door |
| Acoustic upgrade to a party or partition wall | £900 – £2,000 | £860 – £1,900 | wall |
These are typical ranges including VAT, adjusted for North West, where costs run below the UK average. The fixed price for a house in Manchester follows a site visit.
How long does it take?
Allow 2–5 working days per room on site for a typical job. Drawings, approvals and long-lead items such as kitchens or fire door sets are booked before we start.
If the house is let to students, we work backwards from the next tenancy start date in Manchester.
When do Manchester landlords need it?
Landlords in Manchester most often ask us for this when:
- Refreshing rooms one at a time
- Moving a house to professional sharers
Questions about bedroom upgrades and room refits in Manchester
Do you supply furniture?
We fit built-in furniture. Loose furniture is usually supplied by you or your furnishing supplier.
Which postcodes in Manchester do you work in?
All of them, including M1, M2, M3 and M15, and the surrounding parts of Greater Manchester.
Which council covers HMOs in Manchester?
Manchester is covered by Manchester 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 Manchester?
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.
Bedroom upgrades and room refits near Manchester
- Salford · 2 mi
- Old Trafford · 3 mi
- Failsworth · 3 mi
- Droylsden · 4 mi
- Stretford · 4 mi
- Eccles · 4 mi
- All of Greater Manchester
Other HMO services in Manchester
- Ensuite installation in Manchester
- Void and between-tenancy refurbs in Manchester
- Professional and co-living HMO refurbs in Manchester
- Sound insulation in Manchester
- Rewires and EICR remedials in Manchester
- Full HMO refurbishment in Manchester
- EPC and energy upgrades in Manchester
- Commercial and above-shop to HMO in Manchester