- Nation
- England
- Pricing region
- South West
- Postcode areas
- TA, BA, BS, DT
- Main towns
- Mendip, Bath, Weston-super-Mare, Taunton, Yeovil
What do large HMO conversions (7+ sharers) in Somerset involve?
- Planning and building control drawings, coordinated with your designer
- Second kitchen or extra kitchen capacity
- Feasibility review and measured survey
- Fire alarm and detection system sized for the building
- Ensuites or extra bathrooms
- Sound insulation between rooms and floors
Which rules apply in Somerset?
- Licences last up to 5 years and carry conditions on gas and electrical safety, alarms, room sizes and waste.
- 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.
- 3–6 unrelated sharers is use class C4; changing from a family house is usually permitted development unless an Article 4 direction applies.
- Building regulations cover structural changes, new partitions, ensuite drainage, fire-resisting construction and notifiable electrical work.
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 do large HMO conversions (7+ sharers) cost in Somerset?
| 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 |
Typical time on site: 10–20 weeks. For a figure for your house, try the guide-price tool.
Large HMO conversions (7+ sharers) by town in Somerset
Questions about large HMO conversions (7+ sharers) in Somerset
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.
Does a seven-bed HMO need planning permission?
In England, normally yes: seven or more unrelated sharers is a sui generis use outside class C4. Wales and Northern Ireland require permission for new HMOs anyway, and in Scotland more than five residents falls outside the houses class. Councils also apply concentration policies, so we check the address first.
Do you carry out large HMO conversions (7+ sharers) across Somerset?
Yes, across the whole of Somerset, including Mendip, Bath, Weston-super-Mare.
Who licenses HMOs in Somerset?
HMOs in Somerset are licensed by the local council for the address. Where an area has several councils, each runs its own licensing and planning policies.
Other HMO services in Somerset
- House to HMO conversion in Somerset
- Escape routes, emergency lighting and fire stopping in Somerset
- Fire alarm and detection systems in Somerset
- Sound insulation in Somerset
- Loft conversions for extra rooms in Somerset
- Extensions for extra rooms in Somerset
- HMO fire safety upgrades in Somerset
- Full HMO refurbishment in Somerset