A small HMO is a shared house for three to six unrelated people. Landlords in Consett (DH8) usually come to us with a council letter, a fire risk assessment or a house they have just bought. We price from whichever you have.
- Area
- County Durham, England
- Postcodes
- DH8
- Location
- 12 miles south-west of Newcastle upon Tyne
- Council
- Durham County Council
- Pricing region
- North East
What do small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in Consett involve?
- Kitchen enlarged or refitted for the number of sharers
- Electrical upgrades and certificate
- Fire doors to rooms off the escape route
- Interlinked smoke and heat detection
- Room-by-room size check before any work starts
Which rules apply in Consett?
Small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in Consett 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:
- 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.
- 7 or more sharers is a sui generis large HMO and normally needs planning permission.
Durham County Council: local HMO schemes
| Article 4 (HMO) | In force in part of the council area Directions cover Durham City and other named areas (2016-2022); extension to rest of county proposed. |
|---|---|
| Additional licensing | No scheme found |
| Selective licensing | In force in part of the council area Selective licensing in 103 designated areas 1 Apr 2022-31 Mar 2027; consultation on a replacement (87 postcodes, c.38% of PRS) closed 12 Aug 2026. |
Schemes change. Check the council’s current pages for the exact address in Consett before you buy or start work. Source: Durham County Council HMO licensing page, checked 2026-10-31.
How much do small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) cost in Consett?
| Item | UK typical | Local guide | Per |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical 3–4 bed house to a 5–6 bed HMO, all-in | £30,000 – £75,000 | £27,600 – £69,000 | project |
| Conversion works per letting room (walls, linings, electrics, decoration; excludes kitchens, bathrooms and fire systems; our estimate) | £3,500 – £6,500 | £3,200 – £6,000 | letting room |
| Shared bathroom refit | £5,500 – £9,000 | £5,050 – £8,300 | bathroom |
| Interlinked mains alarm system (Grade D type), small HMO (our estimate from installer guides) | £800 – £2,000 | £740 – £1,850 | house |
| FD30S fire door leaf into an existing frame, with seals, closer and hinges, fitted | £300 – £600 | £280 – £550 | door |
These are typical ranges including VAT, adjusted for North East, where costs run below the UK average. The fixed price for a house in Consett follows a site visit.
How long does it take?
Allow 4–10 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.
When do Consett landlords need it?
Landlords in Consett most often ask us for this when:
- An existing small HMO needs bringing up to date
- You want a three to six sharer layout that fits the local planning rules
Questions about small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in Consett
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 Consett?
Yes. We work across Consett and the DH8 postcode areas, plus the rest of County Durham. Nearby places we also cover include Stanley, Newburn, Chester-le-Street.
Which council covers HMOs in Consett?
Consett is covered by Durham County 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 Consett?
Our guide ranges for North 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.
Small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) near Consett
- Stanley · 5 mi
- Newburn · 10 mi
- Chester-le-Street · 10 mi
- Durham · 11 mi
- Gateshead · 12 mi
- Newcastle upon Tyne · 12 mi
- All of County Durham