In short: An HMO kitchen refit designs and installs a shared kitchen with enough sinks, cookers, worktop, storage and fridge space for everyone in the house. In County Durham we survey first, price each item separately and hand over the certificates and photos a council asks for.
- Nation
- England
- Pricing region
- North East
- Postcode areas
- DL, DH, TS, SR
- Main towns
- Darlington, Hartlepool, Stockton-on-Tees, Durham, Chester-le-Street
What do communal kitchen refits in County Durham involve?
- Extra sink, hob and oven where the numbers need it
- Kitchen designed to your council’s amenity standards
- Electrics, sockets and lighting
- Extraction to outside
- Heat detector and fire blanket
- Fridge and freezer space
Which rules apply in County Durham?
- Council standards often step up at 5 and 6 sharers, for example a separate WC at 5 and a second bathroom from 6.
- 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.
- Smoke alarms on every storey with living accommodation and CO alarms by fixed combustion appliances (other than gas cookers) are required by law.
- BS 7671, the wiring standard, calls for arc fault detection devices in HMOs on new socket circuits, such as rewires and consumer unit changes.
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 County Durham?
| Item | UK typical | Local guide | Per |
|---|---|---|---|
| Communal HMO kitchen with extra cooking and sink capacity (our estimate from domestic ranges) | £8,000 – £18,000 | £7,350 – £16,550 | kitchen |
| Interlinked mains alarm system (Grade D type), small HMO (our estimate from installer guides) | £800 – £2,000 | £740 – £1,850 | 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 County Durham
- Darlington
- Hartlepool
- Stockton-on-Tees
- Durham
- Chester-le-Street
- Billingham
- Stanley
- Consett
- Newton Aycliffe
- Bishop Auckland
- Seaham
- Peterlee
Questions about communal kitchen refits in County Durham
Do HMO kitchens need a heat detector?
Kitchens normally have a heat detector rather than a smoke detector, linked to the house alarm. The exact system follows the fire risk assessment.
How long does a kitchen refit take?
Usually one to two weeks, longer if walls move or the kitchen relocates.
Do you carry out communal kitchen refits across County Durham?
Yes, across the whole of County Durham, including Darlington, Hartlepool, Stockton-on-Tees.
Who licenses HMOs in County Durham?
HMOs in County Durham 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 County Durham
- Shared bathroom and shower room refits in County Durham
- Student HMO refurbishment in County Durham
- Full HMO refurbishment in County Durham
- Fire alarm and detection systems in County Durham
- Layout changes and room reconfiguration in County Durham
- House to HMO conversion in County Durham
- Bedroom upgrades and room refits in County Durham
- Extensions for extra rooms in County Durham