A small HMO is a shared house for three to six unrelated people. Runcorn is 11 miles south-east of Liverpool. 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.
- Area
- Cheshire, England
- Postcodes
- WA7 and WA8
- Location
- 11 miles south-east of Liverpool
- Pricing region
- North West
What do small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in Runcorn involve?
- Fire doors to rooms off the escape route
- Room-by-room size check before any work starts
- Decoration and durable flooring
- Interlinked smoke and heat detection
- Electrical upgrades and certificate
Which rules apply in Runcorn?
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 Runcorn 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.
- 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.
How much do small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) cost in Runcorn?
| Item | UK typical | Local guide | Per |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical 3–4 bed house to a 5–6 bed HMO, all-in | £30,000 – £75,000 | £28,800 – £72,000 | project |
| Conversion works per letting room (walls, linings, electrics, decoration; excludes kitchens, bathrooms and fire systems; our estimate) | £3,500 – £6,500 | £3,350 – £6,250 | letting room |
| Shared bathroom refit | £5,500 – £9,000 | £5,300 – £8,650 | bathroom |
| Interlinked mains alarm system (Grade D type), small HMO (our estimate from installer guides) | £800 – £2,000 | £770 – £1,900 | house |
| FD30S fire door leaf into an existing frame, with seals, closer and hinges, fitted | £300 – £600 | £290 – £580 | door |
Use these as a starting point for budgeting. Access, condition and the council’s requirements in Runcorn can move the figure either way, which is why we quote after seeing the house.
How long does it take?
Most jobs of this kind take 4–10 weeks. If a council deadline applies in Runcorn, tell us at the first call so the programme is built around it.
When do Runcorn landlords need it?
Landlords in Runcorn most often ask us for this when:
- You want a three to six sharer layout that fits the local planning rules
- A three or four-bedroom house you want to let to sharers
Questions about small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in Runcorn
What is the smallest room I can let?
In a licensed HMO in England, a room for one person aged 10 or over must be at least 6.51 square metres, not counting floor under a ceiling lower than 1.5 metres. Councils can set larger sizes, and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own standards. We measure every room before you commit to a layout.
Do you cover all of Runcorn?
Yes. We work across Runcorn and the WA7 and WA8 postcode areas, plus the rest of Cheshire. Nearby places we also cover include Widnes, Halewood, Speke.
Does a shared house in Runcorn need an HMO licence?
In England, a mandatory licence is needed for 5 or more people from 2 or more households. Smaller HMOs can need a licence where the council runs additional licensing, which is common in towns with many shared houses. Check the council’s website for the address.
How much do small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) cost in Runcorn?
Our guide ranges for North 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.
Small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) near Runcorn
- Widnes · 1 mi
- Halewood · 4 mi
- Speke · 5 mi
- Great Sankey · 5 mi
- Huyton · 7 mi
- Prescot · 7 mi
- All of Cheshire