An HMO kitchen refit designs and installs a shared kitchen with enough sinks, cookers, worktop, storage and fridge space for everyone in the house. For a house in Portsmouth we start with a measured survey, check the council’s written HMO standards for the number of sharers, and then price each item separately. With students as well as working sharers renting in Portsmouth, we plan bigger jobs for the gap between academic-year tenancies where we can.
- Area
- Hampshire, England
- Postcodes
- PO1, PO4 and PO5
- Location
- 15 miles south-east of Southampton
- Council
- Portsmouth City Council
- Pricing region
- South East
What do communal kitchen refits in Portsmouth involve?
- Electrics, sockets and lighting
- Extraction to outside
- Fridge and freezer space
- Durable worktops and flooring
- Extra sink, hob and oven where the numbers need it
Which rules apply in Portsmouth?
Communal kitchen refits in Portsmouth 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.
- 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.
- Council standards often step up at 5 and 6 sharers, for example a separate WC at 5 and a second bathroom from 6.
Portsmouth City Council: local HMO schemes
| Article 4 (HMO) | In force across the council area Covers the whole city; in force since November 2011. |
|---|---|
| Additional licensing | In force across the council area City-wide additional HMO licensing 1 Sep 2023-31 Aug 2028. |
| Selective licensing | No scheme found |
Schemes change. Check the council’s current pages for the exact address in Portsmouth before you buy or start work. Source: Portsmouth City Council HMO licensing page, checked 2026-10-31.
How much do communal kitchen refits cost in Portsmouth?
| 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 |
Use these as a starting point for budgeting. Access, condition and the council’s requirements in Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth, tell us at the first call so the programme is built around it.
For student houses in Portsmouth, booking by spring is the safest way to make the summer gap.
When do Portsmouth landlords need it?
We usually get the call when:
- Tired kitchens that are putting tenants off
- A licence condition about kitchen facilities
Questions about communal kitchen refits in Portsmouth
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 Portsmouth do you work in?
All of them, including PO1, PO4 and PO5, and the surrounding parts of Hampshire.
Which council covers HMOs in Portsmouth?
Portsmouth is covered by Portsmouth 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 communal kitchen refits cost in Portsmouth?
Our guide ranges for South 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 Portsmouth
- Gosport · 2 mi
- Fareham · 5 mi
- Ryde · 6 mi
- Havant · 6 mi
- Waterlooville · 6 mi
- Cowes · 9 mi
- All of Hampshire
Other HMO services in Portsmouth
- Shared bathroom and shower room refits in Portsmouth
- Student HMO refurbishment in Portsmouth
- Full HMO refurbishment in Portsmouth
- Fire alarm and detection systems in Portsmouth
- Layout changes and room reconfiguration in Portsmouth
- House to HMO conversion in Portsmouth
- HMO fire safety upgrades in Portsmouth
- EPC and energy upgrades in Portsmouth