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. Landlords in Islington (N1, N1C and N7) usually come to us with a council letter, a fire risk assessment or a house they have just bought. We price from whichever you have. With students as well as working sharers renting in Islington, we plan bigger jobs for the gap between academic-year tenancies where we can.
- Area
- Greater London, England
- Postcodes
- N1, N1C and N7
- Location
- 2 miles north-east of London
- Pricing region
- London
What does house to HMO conversion in Islington involve?
- Layout drawings showing bedrooms, kitchens, bathrooms and the escape route
- Rewiring or upgrades, with an electrical certificate
- Measured survey and room-size check against the licensing standards
- Decoration, flooring and a handover pack for licensing
- New stud walls, door openings and room splits
Which rules apply in Islington?
House to HMO conversion in Islington must satisfy national law for England, the council’s written HMO standards and, where walls, drainage or fire separation change, the building rules. In short:
- Mandatory HMO licence for 5 or more people in 2 or more households (since October 2018); councils can add additional licensing for smaller HMOs.
- Floor area under a ceiling lower than 1.5 m does not count towards the room size, and many councils set larger sizes.
- Council standards often step up at 5 and 6 sharers, for example a separate WC at 5 and a second bathroom from 6.
- 7 or more sharers is a sui generis large HMO and normally needs planning permission.
How much does house to HMO conversion cost in Islington?
| Item | UK typical | Local guide | Per |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical 3–4 bed house to a 5–6 bed HMO, all-in | £30,000 – £75,000 | £38,400 – £96,000 | project |
| Conversion works per letting room (walls, linings, electrics, decoration; excludes kitchens, bathrooms and fire systems; our estimate) | £3,500 – £6,500 | £4,500 – £8,300 | letting room |
| Ensuite shower room added to a bedroom | £4,000 – £10,000 | £5,100 – £12,800 | ensuite |
| Communal HMO kitchen with extra cooking and sink capacity (our estimate from domestic ranges) | £8,000 – £18,000 | £10,250 – £23,050 | kitchen |
| Interlinked mains alarm system (Grade D type), small HMO (our estimate from installer guides) | £800 – £2,000 | £1,000 – £2,550 | house |
These are typical ranges including VAT, adjusted for London, where costs run above the UK average. The fixed price for a house in Islington follows a site visit.
How long does it take?
Typical time on site: 6–14 weeks. We agree the programme with you before starting and send photo updates as the work progresses.
For student houses in Islington, booking by spring is the safest way to make the summer gap.
When do Islington landlords need it?
We usually get the call when:
- A council has said an existing shared house needs works before a licence
- A family let is moving to room-by-room letting
Questions about house to HMO conversion in Islington
Will the house pass licensing once the works are done?
We build to the standards your council publishes and give you the certificates and drawings an inspection asks for. The licence decision belongs to the licensing authority, so we never promise approval, but we design to meet the written standards from day one.
Do you cover all of Islington?
Yes. We work across Islington and the N1, N1C and N7 postcode areas, plus the rest of Greater London. Nearby places we also cover include Highbury, Holloway, Camden Town.
Does a shared house in Islington need an HMO licence?
In England, a mandatory licence is needed for 5 or more people from 2 or more households. Smaller HMOs can need a licence where the council runs additional licensing, which is common in towns with many shared houses. Check the council’s website for the address.
How much does house to HMO conversion cost in Islington?
Our guide ranges for London are in the table on this page, and the guide-price tool gives a figure for your house. A fixed written quote follows a free site visit.
House to HMO conversion near Islington
- Highbury · 1 mi
- Holloway · 1 mi
- Camden Town · 2 mi
- Chalk Farm · 2 mi
- London · 2 mi
- Archway · 3 mi
- All of Greater London
Other HMO services in Islington
- Small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in Islington
- Large HMO conversions (7+ sharers) in Islington
- HMO fire safety upgrades in Islington
- Ensuite installation in Islington
- Communal kitchen refits in Islington
- Layout changes and room reconfiguration in Islington
- Loft conversions for extra rooms in Islington
- Professional and co-living HMO refurbs in Islington