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 Orkney Islands, priced against the HMO rules for Scotland and the council’s own standards.
- Nation
- Scotland
- Pricing region
- Scotland
- Postcode areas
- KW
What do layout changes and room reconfiguration in Orkney Islands involve?
- Measured survey and options drawings
- Making good and decoration
- Merging undersized rooms
- Removing or altering walls with structural design
- Fire separation for new rooms
- New stud walls and door openings
Which rules apply in Orkney Islands?
- Room sizes are set by each council; East Lothian, for example, uses 6.5 m² for a single room with a shared lounge and kitchen, and 10 m² without.
- The tolerable standard requires interlinked smoke alarms in the main living room and circulation spaces and a heat alarm in the kitchen; licensed HMOs must meet the council’s higher standard.
- A building warrant may be needed for a change of use or for installing a fire alarm system; check with the council’s building standards service.
- Kitchen, WC and bathroom ratios come from council standards; one WC and one bath or shower per 5 people is a common figure.
- Councils set HMO fire standards through licence conditions, often including emergency lighting in larger HMOs.
Scottish councils set their own HMO licence standards and planning policies. Every HMO needs a licence, so check the council’s standards before you design the layout.
How much do layout changes and room reconfiguration cost in Orkney Islands?
| 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 – £6,200 | letting room |
Typical time on site: 1–4 weeks. For a figure for your house, try the guide-price tool.
Questions about layout changes and room reconfiguration in Orkney Islands
Can you work from my sketch?
Yes. We turn it into measured drawings and check it against the standards before you commit.
Can you split a large room into two letting rooms?
If both new rooms meet the size standard, have natural light and ventilation, and the fire strategy allows, yes.
Do you carry out layout changes and room reconfiguration across Orkney Islands?
Yes, across the whole of Orkney Islands.
Who licenses HMOs in Orkney Islands?
Orkney Islands council licenses HMOs in its area. Every HMO in Scotland needs a licence.
Other HMO services in Orkney Islands
- House to HMO conversion in Orkney Islands
- Extensions for extra rooms in Orkney Islands
- Loft conversions for extra rooms in Orkney Islands
- Ensuite installation in Orkney Islands
- Communal kitchen refits in Orkney Islands
- Escape routes, emergency lighting and fire stopping in Orkney Islands
- Full HMO refurbishment in Orkney Islands
- Bedroom upgrades and room refits in Orkney Islands