A small HMO is a shared house for three to six unrelated people. Cambridge is 30 miles south-east of Peterborough. We price small HMO conversions (3–6 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 Cambridge, we plan bigger jobs for the gap between academic-year tenancies where we can.
- Area
- Cambridgeshire, England
- Postcodes
- CB21, CB22, CB23 and CB24
- Location
- 30 miles south-east of Peterborough
- Council
- Cambridge City Council
- Pricing region
- East of England
What do small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in Cambridge involve?
- Electrical upgrades and certificate
- Decoration and durable flooring
- Kitchen enlarged or refitted for the number of sharers
- Room-by-room size check before any work starts
- Second bathroom, shower room or ensuites
Which rules apply in Cambridge?
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 Cambridge before we price.
- 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.
Cambridge City Council: local HMO schemes
| Article 4 (HMO) | Proposed No small-HMO Article 4 direction in force; after a 2026 petition the council said (July 2026) it is building the case for one. No direction made yet. |
|---|---|
| Additional licensing | No scheme found |
| Selective licensing | No scheme found |
Schemes change. Check the council’s current pages for the exact address in Cambridge before you buy or start work. Source: Cambridge City Council HMO licensing page, checked 2026-10-31.
How much do small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) cost in Cambridge?
| Item | UK typical | Local guide | Per |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical 3–4 bed house to a 5–6 bed HMO, all-in | £30,000 – £75,000 | £31,800 – £79,500 | project |
| Conversion works per letting room (walls, linings, electrics, decoration; excludes kitchens, bathrooms and fire systems; our estimate) | £3,500 – £6,500 | £3,700 – £6,900 | letting room |
| Shared bathroom refit | £5,500 – £9,000 | £5,850 – £9,550 | bathroom |
| Interlinked mains alarm system (Grade D type), small HMO (our estimate from installer guides) | £800 – £2,000 | £850 – £2,100 | house |
| FD30S fire door leaf into an existing frame, with seals, closer and hinges, fitted | £300 – £600 | £320 – £640 | door |
These are typical ranges including VAT, adjusted for East of England, where costs run above the UK average. The fixed price for a house in Cambridge follows a site visit.
How long does it take?
Typical time on site: 4–10 weeks. We agree the programme with you before starting and send photo updates as the work progresses.
For student houses in Cambridge, booking by spring is the safest way to make the summer gap.
When do Cambridge landlords need it?
Landlords in Cambridge most often ask us for this when:
- You want a three to six sharer layout that fits the local planning rules
- An existing small HMO needs bringing up to date
Questions about small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in Cambridge
Can I keep a lounge in a small HMO?
Yes, and many councils expect some shared living space where bedrooms are at the smaller end of the size range. We plan the layout so the house works for sharers and meets the local standard.
Which postcodes in Cambridge do you work in?
All of them, including CB21, CB22, CB23 and CB24, and the surrounding parts of Cambridgeshire.
Which council covers HMOs in Cambridge?
Cambridge is covered by Cambridge 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 small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) cost in Cambridge?
Our guide ranges for East of England 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.
Small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) near Cambridge
- Newmarket · 13 mi
- Ely · 15 mi
- Huntingdon · 16 mi
- Haverhill · 16 mi
- Saint Neots · 16 mi
- Letchworth Garden City · 21 mi
- All of Cambridgeshire