House to HMO conversion across County Antrim

In short: A house to HMO conversion turns a single-family home into a house in multiple occupation: a shared home for unrelated people with private bedrooms and shared kitchen or bathroom space. Across County Antrim, the work is planned around Northern Ireland’s HMO rules and the standards the local council publishes.

Nation: Northern Ireland
Pricing region: Northern Ireland
Postcode areas: BT
Main towns: Lisburn, Newtownabbey, Castlereagh, Carrickfergus, Ballymena

What does house to HMO conversion in County Antrim involve?

Measured survey and room-size check against the licensing standards
A communal kitchen sized for the number of sharers
Extra bathrooms, shower rooms or ensuites
Rewiring or upgrades, with an electrical certificate
Fire doors, fire-rated linings and an interlinked fire alarm
Layout drawings showing bedrooms, kitchens, bathrooms and the escape route

Which rules apply in County Antrim?

Licences usually last 5 years, and landlords must also register with the NI landlord registration scheme.
Space and amenity standards come from the HMO (Living Accommodation Standard) Regulations (NI) 2019 and the licence conditions.
Kitchens, bathrooms and WCs must meet the 2019 living accommodation standard regulations and licence conditions.
All new HMOs need planning permission; councils such as Belfast apply HMO policy areas and limits on concentration.
New HMOs need building control approval as well as planning permission.

In Northern Ireland, licensing is run centrally by the NI HMO Unit, and all new HMOs need planning permission and building control approval from the local council.

How much does house to HMO conversion cost in County Antrim?

Regional adjustment for Northern Ireland. Planning budgets: see our prices page.
Item	UK typical	Local guide	Per
Typical 3–4 bed house to a 5–6 bed HMO, all-in	£30,000 – £75,000	£27,000 – £67,500	project
Conversion works per letting room (walls, linings, electrics, decoration; excludes kitchens, bathrooms and fire systems; our estimate)	£3,500 – £6,500	£3,150 – £5,850	letting room
Ensuite shower room added to a bedroom	£4,000 – £10,000	£3,600 – £9,000	ensuite
Communal HMO kitchen with extra cooking and sink capacity (our estimate from domestic ranges)	£8,000 – £18,000	£7,200 – £16,200	kitchen
Interlinked mains alarm system (Grade D type), small HMO (our estimate from installer guides)	£800 – £2,000	£720 – £1,800	house

Typical time on site: 6–14 weeks. For a figure for your house, try the guide-price tool.

House to HMO conversion by town in County Antrim

Questions about house to HMO conversion in County Antrim

How long does a house to HMO conversion take?

Most conversions of a three or four-bedroom house take six to fourteen weeks on site, after drawings and any approvals. Bigger layout changes, extensions or loft rooms add time.

Do you carry out house to HMO conversion across County Antrim?

Yes, across the whole of County Antrim, including Lisburn, Newtownabbey, Castlereagh.

Who licenses HMOs in County Antrim?

HMO licensing in County Antrim, as everywhere in Northern Ireland, is run by the NI HMO Unit at Belfast City Council. Planning and building control are handled by the local council.