HMO layout changes across Cardiff

In short: HMO layout reconfiguration changes the internal plan of a shared house so the rooms, kitchens and bathrooms work together: moving or adding walls, splitting oversized rooms, merging undersized ones, or moving the kitchen off the escape route. We carry this out across Cardiff, priced against the HMO rules for Wales and the council’s own standards.

Nation: Wales
Pricing region: Wales
Postcode areas: CF
Main towns: Cardiff, Whitchurch

What do layout changes and room reconfiguration in Cardiff involve?

Measured survey and options drawings
New stud walls and door openings
Fire separation for new rooms
Moving kitchens off the escape route
Merging undersized rooms
Making good and decoration

Which rules apply in Cardiff?

England’s national room sizes do not apply in Wales; councils set their own room standards.
Council HMO standards and the fire risk assessment set detection, fire doors and escape routes.
Building regulations cover structural work, partitions, drainage, fire-resisting construction and electrics; confirm with building control whether the conversion is a material change of use.
Kitchen and bathroom ratios are set in each council’s HMO standards.

Cardiff Council: local HMO schemes

Additional licensing	In force in part of the council area Cathays: 1 Feb 2023 to 1 Feb 2028. Plasnewydd had a scheme from 1 Jan 2021; check with Cardiff Council whether it has been renewed.
Selective licensing	No scheme found

Schemes change. Check the council’s current pages for the exact address in Cardiff before you buy or start work. Source: Cardiff Council HMO licensing page, checked 2026-10-31.

How much do layout changes and room reconfiguration cost in Cardiff?

Regional adjustment for Wales. Planning budgets: see our prices page.
Item	UK typical	Local guide	Per
New stud wall and door forming a room, per room (our estimate)	£1,500 – £3,500	£1,400 – £3,300	room formed
Conversion works per letting room (walls, linings, electrics, decoration; excludes kitchens, bathrooms and fire systems; our estimate)	£3,500 – £6,500	£3,300 – £6,100	letting room

Typical time on site: 1–4 weeks. For a figure for your house, try the guide-price tool.

Layout changes and room reconfiguration by town in Cardiff

Questions about layout changes and room reconfiguration in Cardiff

Why move a kitchen off the escape route?

Kitchens are where most fires start. Guidance usually prefers that escape routes do not pass through or open directly from a kitchen without protection.

Do I need building control for new walls?

Non-structural partitions often do not on their own, but changes affecting fire safety, structure or drainage usually do. In an HMO conversion they are normally part of the building control application.

Do you carry out layout changes and room reconfiguration across Cardiff?

Yes, across the whole of Cardiff, including Cardiff, Whitchurch.

Who licenses HMOs in Cardiff?

Cardiff council licenses HMOs in its area. Landlords must also register with Rent Smart Wales.

Layout changes and room reconfiguration across Cardiff