- Nation
- England
- Pricing region
- East of England
- Postcode areas
- CM, CO, SS, CB
- Main towns
- Southend-on-Sea, Basildon, Colchester, Chelmsford, Harlow
What do communal kitchen refits in Essex involve?
- Electrics, sockets and lighting
- Lockable food storage for each sharer
- Heat detector and fire blanket
- Extra sink, hob and oven where the numbers need it
- Durable worktops and flooring
- Extraction to outside
Which rules apply in Essex?
- Council standards often step up at 5 and 6 sharers, for example a separate WC at 5 and a second bathroom from 6.
- 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.
- 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 Essex?
| Item | UK typical | Local guide | Per |
|---|---|---|---|
| Communal HMO kitchen with extra cooking and sink capacity (our estimate from domestic ranges) | £8,000 – £18,000 | £8,500 – £19,100 | kitchen |
| Interlinked mains alarm system (Grade D type), small HMO (our estimate from installer guides) | £800 – £2,000 | £850 – £2,100 | 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 Essex
- Southend-on-Sea
- Basildon
- Colchester
- Chelmsford
- Harlow
- Grays
- Braintree
- Brentwood
- Clacton-on-Sea
- South Benfleet
- Bishops Stortford
- Canvey Island
- Billericay
- Rayleigh
- Stanford-le-Hope
- Wickford
- Witham
- Pitsea
- Maldon
- Waltham Abbey
- South Ockendon
- Harwich
Questions about communal kitchen refits in Essex
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.
Can kitchens be split between floors?
Yes, and in larger houses it often helps. A second kitchen can reduce pressure on one room and helps meet the ratios.
Do you carry out communal kitchen refits across Essex?
Yes, across the whole of Essex, including Southend-on-Sea, Basildon, Colchester.
Who licenses HMOs in Essex?
HMOs in Essex 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 Essex
- Shared bathroom and shower room refits in Essex
- Student HMO refurbishment in Essex
- Full HMO refurbishment in Essex
- Fire alarm and detection systems in Essex
- Layout changes and room reconfiguration in Essex
- House to HMO conversion in Essex
- Damp, mould and HHSRS repairs in Essex
- Commercial and above-shop to HMO in Essex