A large HMO is a shared house for seven or more people. For a house in Brighton we start with a measured survey, check the council’s written HMO standards for the number of sharers, and then price each item separately. Brighton has a university population, so many shared houses are let to students on yearly tenancies, and summer is the main window for works.
- Area
- East Sussex, England
- Postcodes
- BN1, BN2 and BN3
- Location
- 47 miles south of London
- Council
- Brighton & Hove City Council
- Pricing region
- South East
What do large HMO conversions (7+ sharers) in Brighton involve?
- Ensuites or extra bathrooms
- Protected stair and landing with fire doors and fire stopping
- Feasibility review and measured survey
- Fire alarm and detection system sized for the building
- Emergency lighting where the escape route needs it
Which rules apply in Brighton?
Large HMO conversions (7+ sharers) in Brighton 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:
- 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.
Brighton & Hove City Council: local HMO schemes
| Article 4 (HMO) | In force across the council area City-wide C3-C4 Article 4 Direction confirmed Jan 2020 and in force June 2020 (replaced the 2013 five-ward direction). |
|---|---|
| Additional licensing | In force across the council area Additional licensing across all 23 wards 1 Jul 2024-30 Jun 2029. |
| Selective licensing | In force in part of the council area Kemptown, Moulsecoomb & Bevendean, Queen's Park, Whitehawk & Marina 2 Sep 2024-1 Sep 2029. Central Hove & Regency designation (made 6 Jul 2026, due 20 Oct 2026) is paused pending a legal challenge. |
Schemes change. Check the council’s current pages for the exact address in Brighton before you buy or start work. Source: Brighton & Hove City Council HMO licensing page, checked 2026-10-31.
How much do large HMO conversions (7+ sharers) cost in Brighton?
| 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 | £3,900 – £7,300 | letting room |
| Panel alarm system (Grade A type), larger HMO | £1,750 – £4,500 | £1,950 – £5,050 | house |
| Protected route upgrades: fire-resisting linings, fire stopping, lighting (three-storey house, our estimate) | £2,000 – £6,000 | £2,250 – £6,700 | house |
| Ensuite shower room added to a bedroom | £4,000 – £10,000 | £4,500 – £11,200 | ensuite |
| Communal HMO kitchen with extra cooking and sink capacity (our estimate from domestic ranges) | £8,000 – £18,000 | £8,950 – £20,150 | kitchen |
Use these as a starting point for budgeting. Access, condition and the council’s requirements in Brighton can move the figure either way, which is why we quote after seeing the house.
How long does it take?
Allow 10–20 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.
For student houses in Brighton, booking by spring is the safest way to make the summer gap.
When do Brighton landlords need it?
Typical reasons for this work in Brighton:
- You have planning in place, or want to apply
- An existing large HMO needs works before a licence renewal
Questions about large HMO conversions (7+ sharers) in Brighton
Can you work with my architect?
Yes. We often build from an architect’s drawings, or we can recommend a designer to prepare them.
Which postcodes in Brighton do you work in?
All of them, including BN1, BN2 and BN3, and the surrounding parts of East Sussex.
Which council covers HMOs in Brighton?
Brighton is covered by Brighton & Hove 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 Brighton?
Our guide ranges for South East 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 Brighton
- Hove · 1 mi
- Portslade · 3 mi
- Rottingdean · 4 mi
- Burgess Hill · 9 mi
- Worthing · 10 mi
- Seaford · 11 mi
- All of East Sussex
Other HMO services in Brighton
- House to HMO conversion in Brighton
- Escape routes, emergency lighting and fire stopping in Brighton
- Fire alarm and detection systems in Brighton
- Sound insulation in Brighton
- Loft conversions for extra rooms in Brighton
- Extensions for extra rooms in Brighton
- Ensuite installation in Brighton
- Damp, mould and HHSRS repairs in Brighton