A small HMO is a shared house for three to six unrelated people. Landlords in Plymouth (PL1, PL2, PL3 and PL4) 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 Plymouth, we plan bigger jobs for the gap between academic-year tenancies where we can.
- Area
- Devon, England
- Postcodes
- PL1, PL2, PL3 and PL4
- Council
- Plymouth City Council
- Pricing region
- South West
What do small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in Plymouth involve?
- Locks, door closers and thumb-turn locks on the exit route
- Second bathroom, shower room or ensuites
- Kitchen enlarged or refitted for the number of sharers
- Fire doors to rooms off the escape route
- Decoration and durable flooring
Which rules apply in Plymouth?
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 Plymouth before we price.
- Under the Renters’ Rights Act, civil penalties reach £40,000 for offences such as running an unlicensed HMO.
- 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.
Plymouth City Council: local HMO schemes
| Article 4 (HMO) | In force in part of the council area Article 4 Direction covering 11 neighbourhoods (incl. Mutley & Greenbank, City Centre, Stoke & Stonehouse, Lipson & Laira, Peverell) in force 14 Sep 2012. |
|---|---|
| Additional licensing | No scheme found |
| Selective licensing | No scheme found |
Schemes change. Check the council’s current pages for the exact address in Plymouth before you buy or start work. Source: Plymouth City Council HMO licensing page, checked 2026-10-31.
How much do small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) cost in Plymouth?
| Item | UK typical | Local guide | Per |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical 3–4 bed house to a 5–6 bed HMO, all-in | £30,000 – £75,000 | £31,200 – £78,000 | project |
| 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 |
| Shared bathroom refit | £5,500 – £9,000 | £5,700 – £9,350 | bathroom |
| Interlinked mains alarm system (Grade D type), small HMO (our estimate from installer guides) | £800 – £2,000 | £830 – £2,100 | house |
| FD30S fire door leaf into an existing frame, with seals, closer and hinges, fitted | £300 – £600 | £310 – £620 | door |
These are typical ranges including VAT, adjusted for South West, where costs run above the UK average. The fixed price for a house in Plymouth follows a site visit.
How long does it take?
Most jobs of this kind take 4–10 weeks. If a council deadline applies in Plymouth, tell us at the first call so the programme is built around it.
If the house is let to students, we work backwards from the next tenancy start date in Plymouth.
When do Plymouth landlords need it?
Typical reasons for this work in Plymouth:
- 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 Plymouth
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 Plymouth do you work in?
All of them, including PL1, PL2, PL3 and PL4, and the surrounding parts of Devon.
Which council covers HMOs in Plymouth?
Plymouth is covered by Plymouth 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 Plymouth?
Our guide ranges for South 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 Plymouth
- Plymstock · 2 mi
- Paignton · 26 mi
- Newton Abbot · 26 mi
- St Austell · 28 mi
- Torquay · 28 mi
- Exeter · 36 mi
- All of Devon