An HMO kitchen refit designs and installs a shared kitchen with enough sinks, cookers, worktop, storage and fridge space for everyone in the house. Landlords in Durham (DH1) usually come to us with a council letter, a fire risk assessment or a house they have just bought. We price from whichever you have. 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 communal kitchen refits in Durham involve?
- Electrics, sockets and lighting
- Extraction to outside
- Kitchen designed to your council’s amenity standards
- Extra sink, hob and oven where the numbers need it
- Fridge and freezer space
Which rules apply in Durham?
Communal kitchen refits in Durham 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:
- National rules ask for an adequate number of bathrooms, WCs and basins and suitably located kitchens; numeric ratios are set by each council.
- 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.
- Council standards often step up at 5 and 6 sharers, for example a separate WC at 5 and a second bathroom from 6.
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 communal kitchen refits cost in 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 |
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?
Most jobs of this kind take 1–2 weeks. If a council deadline applies in Durham, tell us at the first call so the programme is built around it.
For student houses in Durham, booking by spring is the safest way to make the summer gap.
When do Durham landlords need it?
Typical reasons for this work in Durham:
- More sharers than the current kitchen can serve
- Tired kitchens that are putting tenants off
Questions about communal kitchen refits in 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.
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 communal kitchen 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.
Communal kitchen 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
- Shared bathroom and shower room refits in Durham
- Student HMO refurbishment in Durham
- Full HMO refurbishment in Durham
- Fire alarm and detection systems in Durham
- Layout changes and room reconfiguration in Durham
- House to HMO conversion in Durham
- Ensuite installation in Durham
- Loft conversions for extra rooms in Durham