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. For a house in London we start with a measured survey, check the council’s written HMO standards for the number of sharers, and then price each item separately.
- Area
- Greater London, England
- Postcodes
- EC1A, EC1M, EC1N and EC1R
- Pricing region
- London
What does house to HMO conversion in London involve?
- Extra bathrooms, shower rooms or ensuites
- Decoration, flooring and a handover pack for licensing
- Layout drawings showing bedrooms, kitchens, bathrooms and the escape route
- Measured survey and room-size check against the licensing standards
- A communal kitchen sized for the number of sharers
Which rules apply in London?
The rules below are the England-wide position for this kind of work. Councils add their own standards and schemes on top, so we always check the address in London before we price.
- Licences last up to 5 years and carry conditions on gas and electrical safety, alarms, room sizes and waste.
- Licensed HMOs must meet national minimum bedroom sizes: 6.51 m² for one person aged 10 or over, 10.22 m² for two, and 4.64 m² for a child under 10.
- National rules ask for an adequate number of bathrooms, WCs and basins and suitably located kitchens; numeric ratios are set by each council.
- 7 or more sharers is a sui generis large HMO and normally needs planning permission.
How much does house to HMO conversion cost in London?
| 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 |
Use these as a starting point for budgeting. Access, condition and the council’s requirements in London can move the figure either way, which is why we quote after seeing the house.
How long does it take?
Most jobs of this kind take 6–14 weeks. If a council deadline applies in London, tell us at the first call so the programme is built around it.
When do London landlords need it?
Landlords in London most often ask us for this when:
- You have bought, or are buying, a house to let to sharers
- A family let is moving to room-by-room letting
Questions about house to HMO conversion in London
Can you work to a council’s HMO standards document?
Yes. Councils publish their own amenity and space standards. We read the one for your address and work to it, including kitchen and bathroom ratios.
Do you cover all of London?
Yes. We work across London and the EC1A, EC1M, EC1N and EC1R postcode areas, plus the rest of Greater London. Nearby places we also cover include City of Westminster, Pimlico, Islington.
Where do I check the HMO rules for an address in London?
With the local council for the address. Councils in England can add additional licensing and Article 4 directions on top of the national rules. Check the council’s website for the exact address before you buy or start work.
How much does house to HMO conversion cost in London?
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 London
- City of Westminster · 1 mi
- Pimlico · 1 mi
- Islington · 2 mi
- Camden Town · 2 mi
- Chelsea · 2 mi
- Chalk Farm · 3 mi
- All of Greater London
Other HMO services in London
- Small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in London
- Large HMO conversions (7+ sharers) in London
- HMO fire safety upgrades in London
- Ensuite installation in London
- Communal kitchen refits in London
- Layout changes and room reconfiguration in London
- Extensions for extra rooms in London
- Escape routes, emergency lighting and fire stopping in London