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 South Lanarkshire, priced against the HMO rules for Scotland and the council’s own standards.
- Nation
- Scotland
- Pricing region
- Scotland
- Postcode areas
- ML, G, EH
- Main towns
- East Kilbride, Meikle Earnock, Hamilton, Rutherglen, Cambuslang
What do layout changes and room reconfiguration in South Lanarkshire involve?
- Moving kitchens off the escape route
- Merging undersized rooms
- Removing or altering walls with structural design
- Fire separation for new rooms
- New stud walls and door openings
- Making good and decoration
Which rules apply in South Lanarkshire?
- 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 South Lanarkshire?
| 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 South Lanarkshire
Questions about layout changes and room reconfiguration in South Lanarkshire
Can you work from my sketch?
Yes. We turn it into measured drawings and check it against the standards before you commit.
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 you carry out layout changes and room reconfiguration across South Lanarkshire?
Yes, across the whole of South Lanarkshire, including East Kilbride, Meikle Earnock, Hamilton.
Who licenses HMOs in South Lanarkshire?
South Lanarkshire council licenses HMOs in its area. Every HMO in Scotland needs a licence.
Other HMO services in South Lanarkshire
- House to HMO conversion in South Lanarkshire
- Extensions for extra rooms in South Lanarkshire
- Loft conversions for extra rooms in South Lanarkshire
- Ensuite installation in South Lanarkshire
- Communal kitchen refits in South Lanarkshire
- Escape routes, emergency lighting and fire stopping in South Lanarkshire
- Commercial and above-shop to HMO in South Lanarkshire
- Shared bathroom and shower room refits in South Lanarkshire