A small HMO is a shared house for three to six unrelated people. Landlords in Derry (BT47 and BT48) 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. With students as well as working sharers renting in Derry, we plan bigger jobs for the gap between academic-year tenancies where we can.
- Area
- County Londonderry, Northern Ireland
- Postcodes
- BT47 and BT48
- Pricing region
- Northern Ireland
What do small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in Derry involve?
- Room-by-room size check before any work starts
- Interlinked smoke and heat detection
- Locks, door closers and thumb-turn locks on the exit route
- Second bathroom, shower room or ensuites
- Fire doors to rooms off the escape route
Which rules apply in Derry?
Here is what usually applies to a Derry job of this kind. It is general information rather than legal advice, and the NI HMO standards and licence conditions have the final detail.
- A licence is needed where 3 or more people forming more than two households live as their main home and pay rent; the NI HMO Unit at Belfast City Council licenses for every council.
- Space and amenity standards come from the HMO (Living Accommodation Standard) Regulations (NI) 2019 and the licence conditions.
- Kitchens, bathrooms and WCs must meet the 2019 living accommodation standard regulations and licence conditions.
- All new HMOs need planning permission; councils such as Belfast apply HMO policy areas and limits on concentration.
How much do small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) cost in Derry?
| Item | UK typical | Local guide | Per |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical 3–4 bed house to a 5–6 bed HMO, all-in | £30,000 – £75,000 | £27,000 – £67,500 | project |
| Conversion works per letting room (walls, linings, electrics, decoration; excludes kitchens, bathrooms and fire systems; our estimate) | £3,500 – £6,500 | £3,150 – £5,850 | letting room |
| Shared bathroom refit | £5,500 – £9,000 | £4,950 – £8,100 | bathroom |
| Interlinked mains alarm system (Grade D type), small HMO (our estimate from installer guides) | £800 – £2,000 | £720 – £1,800 | house |
| FD30S fire door leaf into an existing frame, with seals, closer and hinges, fitted | £300 – £600 | £270 – £540 | door |
Use these as a starting point for budgeting. Access, condition and the council’s requirements in Derry 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 Derry, tell us at the first call so the programme is built around it.
For student houses in Derry, booking by spring is the safest way to make the summer gap.
When do Derry landlords need it?
Landlords in Derry most often ask us for this when:
- An existing small HMO needs bringing up to date
- A three or four-bedroom house you want to let to sharers
Questions about small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in Derry
Does a small HMO need a licence?
In England a mandatory licence is needed when five or more people from two or more households share, and smaller HMOs can need one where the council runs additional licensing. Wales still applies a three-storey test, while in Scotland and Northern Ireland every HMO needs a licence. We check the address and tell you which applies before quoting.
Which postcodes in Derry do you work in?
All of them, including BT47 and BT48, and the surrounding parts of County Londonderry.
Where do I check the HMO rules for an address in Derry?
With the local council for the address. In Northern Ireland, licensing is run centrally by the NI HMO Unit, and all new HMOs need planning permission and building control approval from the local council.
How much do small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) cost in Derry?
Our guide ranges for Northern Ireland 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 Derry
- Londonderry County Borough · 0 mi
- Strabane · 14 mi
- Coleraine · 27 mi
- Omagh · 28 mi
- Ballymena · 42 mi
- Enniskillen · 47 mi
- All of County Londonderry