A small HMO is a shared house for three to six unrelated people. In Torquay, a town of around 65,000 people in Devon, the work is planned around the HMO rules for England and the council’s written HMO standards.
- Area
- Devon, England
- Postcodes
- TQ1 and TQ2
- Location
- 18 miles south of Exeter
- Pricing region
- South West
What do small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in Torquay involve?
- Second bathroom, shower room or ensuites
- Electrical upgrades and certificate
- Room-by-room size check before any work starts
- Decoration and durable flooring
- Kitchen enlarged or refitted for the number of sharers
Which rules apply in Torquay?
Small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in Torquay 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:
- 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.
- 3–6 unrelated sharers is use class C4; changing from a family house is usually permitted development unless an Article 4 direction applies.
How much do small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) cost in Torquay?
| 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 |
Prices in Torquay are shown with our regional adjustment for South West (above the UK average). Your quote is itemised and fixed in writing once the scope and specification are agreed.
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 Torquay landlords need it?
Landlords in Torquay most often ask us for this when:
- A three or four-bedroom house you want to let to sharers
- An existing small HMO needs bringing up to date
Questions about small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in Torquay
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 Torquay do you work in?
All of them, including TQ1 and TQ2, and the surrounding parts of Devon.
Does a shared house in Torquay 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 Torquay?
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 Torquay
- Paignton · 3 mi
- Newton Abbot · 6 mi
- Exmouth · 12 mi
- Heavitree · 18 mi
- Exeter · 18 mi
- Plymstock · 26 mi
- All of Devon
Other HMO services in Torquay
- House to HMO conversion in Torquay
- Ensuite installation in Torquay
- Fire alarm and detection systems in Torquay
- Communal kitchen refits in Torquay
- Fire doors in Torquay
- Licence condition and schedule-of-works in Torquay
- Large HMO conversions (7+ sharers) in Torquay
- Void and between-tenancy refurbs in Torquay