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. In Solihull, a place of roughly 130,000 people in West Midlands, the work is planned around the HMO rules for England and the council’s written HMO standards.
- Area
- West Midlands, England
- Postcodes
- B26, B27 and B28
- Location
- 7 miles south-east of Birmingham
- Pricing region
- West Midlands
What does house to HMO conversion in Solihull involve?
- Decoration, flooring and a handover pack for licensing
- Extra bathrooms, shower rooms or ensuites
- Fire doors, fire-rated linings and an interlinked fire alarm
- Layout drawings showing bedrooms, kitchens, bathrooms and the escape route
- A communal kitchen sized for the number of sharers
Which rules apply in Solihull?
Here is what usually applies to a Solihull job of this kind. It is general information rather than legal advice, and the council’s written HMO standards have the final detail.
- Mandatory HMO licence for 5 or more people in 2 or more households (since October 2018); councils can add additional licensing for smaller HMOs.
- 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.
- Council standards often step up at 5 and 6 sharers, for example a separate WC at 5 and a second bathroom from 6.
- 3–6 unrelated sharers is use class C4; changing from a family house is usually permitted development unless an Article 4 direction applies.
How much does house to HMO conversion cost in Solihull?
| Item | UK typical | Local guide | Per |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical 3–4 bed house to a 5–6 bed HMO, all-in | £30,000 – £75,000 | £30,000 – £75,000 | project |
| Conversion works per letting room (walls, linings, electrics, decoration; excludes kitchens, bathrooms and fire systems; our estimate) | £3,500 – £6,500 | £3,500 – £6,500 | letting room |
| Ensuite shower room added to a bedroom | £4,000 – £10,000 | £4,000 – £10,000 | ensuite |
| Communal HMO kitchen with extra cooking and sink capacity (our estimate from domestic ranges) | £8,000 – £18,000 | £8,000 – £18,000 | kitchen |
| Interlinked mains alarm system (Grade D type), small HMO (our estimate from installer guides) | £800 – £2,000 | £800 – £2,000 | house |
Use these as a starting point for budgeting. Access, condition and the council’s requirements in Solihull can move the figure either way, which is why we quote after seeing the house.
How long does it take?
Allow 6–14 weeks on site for a typical job. Drawings, approvals and long-lead items such as kitchens or fire door sets are booked before we start.
When do Solihull landlords need it?
We usually get the call when:
- A family let is moving to room-by-room letting
- A council has said an existing shared house needs works before a licence
Questions about house to HMO conversion in Solihull
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 cover all of Solihull?
Yes. We work across Solihull and the B26, B27 and B28 postcode areas, plus the rest of West Midlands. Nearby places we also cover include Shirley, Acocks Green, Washwood Heath.
Where do I check the HMO rules for an address in Solihull?
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 Solihull?
Our guide ranges for West Midlands 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 Solihull
- Shirley · 2 mi
- Acocks Green · 3 mi
- Washwood Heath · 6 mi
- Birmingham · 7 mi
- Aston · 7 mi
- Bartley Green · 9 mi
- All of West Midlands
Other HMO services in Solihull
- Small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in Solihull
- Large HMO conversions (7+ sharers) in Solihull
- HMO fire safety upgrades in Solihull
- Ensuite installation in Solihull
- Communal kitchen refits in Solihull
- Layout changes and room reconfiguration in Solihull
- Shared bathroom and shower room refits in Solihull
- Extensions for extra rooms in Solihull