- Nation
- England
- Pricing region
- South East
- Postcode areas
- RG, SL, OX, GU
- Main towns
- Reading, Slough, Bracknell, Maidenhead, Wokingham
What do communal kitchen refits in Berkshire involve?
- Kitchen designed to your council’s amenity standards
- Lockable food storage for each sharer
- Electrics, sockets and lighting
- Durable worktops and flooring
- Fridge and freezer space
- Extra sink, hob and oven where the numbers need it
Which rules apply in Berkshire?
- Council standards often step up at 5 and 6 sharers, for example a separate WC at 5 and a second bathroom from 6.
- Fire precautions follow a risk assessment; the LACORS Housing – Fire Safety guide (2008) is guidance, not law, but many councils base their standards on it.
- BS 7671, the wiring standard, calls for arc fault detection devices in HMOs on new socket circuits, such as rewires and consumer unit changes.
- Smoke alarms on every storey with living accommodation and CO alarms by fixed combustion appliances (other than gas cookers) are required by law.
- The Fire Safety Order 2005 applies to the common parts of HMOs, enforced by the fire and rescue authority.
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 do communal kitchen refits cost in Berkshire?
| Item | UK typical | Local guide | Per |
|---|---|---|---|
| Communal HMO kitchen with extra cooking and sink capacity (our estimate from domestic ranges) | £8,000 – £18,000 | £8,950 – £20,150 | kitchen |
| Interlinked mains alarm system (Grade D type), small HMO (our estimate from installer guides) | £800 – £2,000 | £900 – £2,250 | house |
Typical time on site: 1–2 weeks. For a figure for your house, try the guide-price tool.
Communal kitchen refits by town in Berkshire
Questions about communal kitchen refits in Berkshire
How long does a kitchen refit take?
Usually one to two weeks, longer if walls move or the kitchen relocates.
How big does an HMO kitchen need to be?
Councils set their own standards, usually as a minimum floor area and a number of sinks, cookers and worktop lengths per number of sharers. We design to the standard for your address.
Do you carry out communal kitchen refits across Berkshire?
Yes, across the whole of Berkshire, including Reading, Slough, Bracknell.
Who licenses HMOs in Berkshire?
HMOs in Berkshire are licensed by the local council for the address. Where an area has several councils, each runs its own licensing and planning policies.
Other HMO services in Berkshire
- Shared bathroom and shower room refits in Berkshire
- Student HMO refurbishment in Berkshire
- Full HMO refurbishment in Berkshire
- Fire alarm and detection systems in Berkshire
- Layout changes and room reconfiguration in Berkshire
- House to HMO conversion in Berkshire
- Escape routes, emergency lighting and fire stopping in Berkshire
- Damp, mould and HHSRS repairs in Berkshire