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 Scottish Borders, priced against the HMO rules for Scotland and the council’s own standards.
- Nation
- Scotland
- Pricing region
- Scotland
- Postcode areas
- TD, EH, ML
- Main towns
- Hawick
What do layout changes and room reconfiguration in Scottish Borders involve?
- Making good and decoration
- Fire separation for new rooms
- Measured survey and options drawings
- New stud walls and door openings
- Re-routing services
- Merging undersized rooms
Which rules apply in Scottish Borders?
- 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 Scottish Borders?
| 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.
Layout changes and room reconfiguration by town in Scottish Borders
Questions about layout changes and room reconfiguration in Scottish Borders
Can you work from my sketch?
Yes. We turn it into measured drawings and check it against the standards before you commit.
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 Scottish Borders?
Yes, across the whole of Scottish Borders, including Hawick.
Who licenses HMOs in Scottish Borders?
Scottish Borders council licenses HMOs in its area. Every HMO in Scotland needs a licence.
Other HMO services in Scottish Borders
- House to HMO conversion in Scottish Borders
- Extensions for extra rooms in Scottish Borders
- Loft conversions for extra rooms in Scottish Borders
- Ensuite installation in Scottish Borders
- Communal kitchen refits in Scottish Borders
- Escape routes, emergency lighting and fire stopping in Scottish Borders
- Sound insulation in Scottish Borders
- EPC and energy upgrades in Scottish Borders