A large HMO is a shared house for seven or more people. Exeter is 36 miles north-east of Plymouth. We price large HMO conversions (7+ sharers) there against England’s HMO rules and the council’s written HMO standards, so work is planned to the standard an inspection looks for. With students as well as working sharers renting in Exeter, we plan bigger jobs for the gap between academic-year tenancies where we can.
- Area
- Devon, England
- Postcodes
- EX2 and EX4
- Location
- 36 miles north-east of Plymouth
- Council
- Exeter City Council
- Pricing region
- South West
What do large HMO conversions (7+ sharers) in Exeter involve?
- Planning and building control drawings, coordinated with your designer
- Sound insulation between rooms and floors
- Fire alarm and detection system sized for the building
- Protected stair and landing with fire doors and fire stopping
- Feasibility review and measured survey
Which rules apply in Exeter?
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 Exeter before we price.
- Under the Renters’ Rights Act, civil penalties reach £40,000 for offences such as running an unlicensed HMO.
- Floor area under a ceiling lower than 1.5 m does not count towards the room size, and many councils set larger sizes.
- National rules ask for an adequate number of bathrooms, WCs and basins and suitably located kitchens; numeric ratios are set by each council.
- 3–6 unrelated sharers is use class C4; changing from a family house is usually permitted development unless an Article 4 direction applies.
Exeter City Council: local HMO schemes
| Article 4 (HMO) | In force in part of the council area New, larger Article 4 Direction (around the city centre and university) confirmed 28 Mar 2024, in effect 23 Dec 2024, replacing the 2010 direction. |
|---|---|
| Additional licensing | No scheme found |
| Selective licensing | No scheme found |
Schemes change. Check the council’s current pages for the exact address in Exeter before you buy or start work. Source: Exeter City Council HMO licensing page, checked 2026-10-31.
How much do large HMO conversions (7+ sharers) cost in Exeter?
| Item | UK typical | Local guide | Per |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conversion works per letting room (walls, linings, electrics, decoration; excludes kitchens, bathrooms and fire systems; our estimate) | £3,500 – £6,500 | £3,650 – £6,750 | letting room |
| Panel alarm system (Grade A type), larger HMO | £1,750 – £4,500 | £1,800 – £4,700 | house |
| Protected route upgrades: fire-resisting linings, fire stopping, lighting (three-storey house, our estimate) | £2,000 – £6,000 | £2,100 – £6,250 | house |
| Ensuite shower room added to a bedroom | £4,000 – £10,000 | £4,150 – £10,400 | ensuite |
| Communal HMO kitchen with extra cooking and sink capacity (our estimate from domestic ranges) | £8,000 – £18,000 | £8,300 – £18,700 | kitchen |
These are typical ranges including VAT, adjusted for South West, where costs run above the UK average. The fixed price for a house in Exeter follows a site visit.
How long does it take?
Most jobs of this kind take 10–20 weeks. If a council deadline applies in Exeter, tell us at the first call so the programme is built around it.
For student houses in Exeter, booking by spring is the safest way to make the summer gap.
When do Exeter landlords need it?
Typical reasons for this work in Exeter:
- An existing large HMO needs works before a licence renewal
- You have planning in place, or want to apply
Questions about large HMO conversions (7+ sharers) in Exeter
Do you handle building control?
Yes. The building work in a large HMO conversion (partitions, fire separation, drainage, electrics) needs to meet the building regulations, and the conversion can also count as a material change of use. We confirm the route with building control, coordinate inspections and give you the completion paperwork.
How far do you travel from Exeter?
We cover the whole of Devon and work UK-wide. For Exeter the nearest towns on our list are Heavitree (1 miles), Exmouth (9 miles), Tiverton (12 miles).
Which council covers HMOs in Exeter?
Exeter is covered by Exeter City Council. We read the council’s written HMO standards before pricing, and you should check the licence position for the exact address.
How much do large HMO conversions (7+ sharers) cost in Exeter?
Our guide ranges for South West 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.
Large HMO conversions (7+ sharers) near Exeter
- Heavitree · 1 mi
- Exmouth · 9 mi
- Tiverton · 12 mi
- Newton Abbot · 14 mi
- Torquay · 18 mi
- Paignton · 20 mi
- All of Devon
Other HMO services in Exeter
- House to HMO conversion in Exeter
- Escape routes, emergency lighting and fire stopping in Exeter
- Fire alarm and detection systems in Exeter
- Sound insulation in Exeter
- Loft conversions for extra rooms in Exeter
- Extensions for extra rooms in Exeter
- Commercial and above-shop to HMO in Exeter
- Fire doors in Exeter