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. Across Kent, the work is planned around England’s HMO rules and the standards the local council publishes.
- Nation
- England
- Pricing region
- South East
- Postcode areas
- TN, CT, ME, DA
- Main towns
- Saint Peters, Maidstone, Gillingham, Chatham, Royal Tunbridge Wells
What do communal kitchen refits in Kent involve?
- Durable worktops and flooring
- Lockable food storage for each sharer
- Fridge and freezer space
- Heat detector and fire blanket
- Extra sink, hob and oven where the numbers need it
- Electrics, sockets and lighting
Which rules apply in Kent?
- 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.
- Smoke alarms on every storey with living accommodation and CO alarms by fixed combustion appliances (other than gas cookers) are required by law.
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 Kent?
| 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 Kent
- Saint Peters
- Maidstone
- Gillingham
- Chatham
- Royal Tunbridge Wells
- Folkestone
- Margate
- Ashford (Kent)
- Canterbury
- Sittingbourne
- Gravesend
- Dartford
- Ramsgate
- Dover
- Tonbridge
- Strood
- Whitstable
- Deal
- Sevenoaks
- Rochester
- Herne Bay
- Broadstairs
- Faversham
- Swanley
Questions about communal kitchen refits in Kent
How long does a kitchen refit take?
Usually one to two weeks, longer if walls move or the kitchen relocates.
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.
Do you carry out communal kitchen refits across Kent?
Yes, across the whole of Kent, including Saint Peters, Maidstone, Gillingham.
Who licenses HMOs in Kent?
HMOs in Kent are licensed by the local council for the address. Where an area has several councils, each runs its own licensing and planning policies.