A small HMO is a shared house for three to six unrelated people. For a house in Portslade we start with a measured survey, check the council’s written HMO standards for the number of sharers, and then price each item separately.
- Area
- East Sussex, England
- Postcodes
- BN3, BN41 and BN42
- Location
- 3 miles west of Brighton
- Pricing region
- South East
What do small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in Portslade involve?
- Interlinked smoke and heat detection
- Kitchen enlarged or refitted for the number of sharers
- Room-by-room size check before any work starts
- Second bathroom, shower room or ensuites
- Decoration and durable flooring
Which rules apply in Portslade?
Small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in Portslade 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:
- Licences last up to 5 years and carry conditions on gas and electrical safety, alarms, room sizes and waste.
- Floor area under a ceiling lower than 1.5 m does not count towards the room size, and many councils set larger sizes.
- 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.
How much do small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) cost in Portslade?
| Item | UK typical | Local guide | Per |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical 3–4 bed house to a 5–6 bed HMO, all-in | £30,000 – £75,000 | £33,600 – £84,000 | project |
| Conversion works per letting room (walls, linings, electrics, decoration; excludes kitchens, bathrooms and fire systems; our estimate) | £3,500 – £6,500 | £3,900 – £7,300 | letting room |
| Shared bathroom refit | £5,500 – £9,000 | £6,150 – £10,100 | bathroom |
| Interlinked mains alarm system (Grade D type), small HMO (our estimate from installer guides) | £800 – £2,000 | £900 – £2,250 | house |
| FD30S fire door leaf into an existing frame, with seals, closer and hinges, fitted | £300 – £600 | £340 – £670 | door |
Use these as a starting point for budgeting. Access, condition and the council’s requirements in Portslade can move the figure either way, which is why we quote after seeing the house.
How long does it take?
Typical time on site: 4–10 weeks. We agree the programme with you before starting and send photo updates as the work progresses.
When do Portslade landlords need it?
Landlords in Portslade 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 Portslade
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.
Do you cover all of Portslade?
Yes. We work across Portslade and the BN3, BN41 and BN42 postcode areas, plus the rest of East Sussex. Nearby places we also cover include Hove, Brighton, Worthing.
Does a shared house in Portslade 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 Portslade?
Our guide ranges for South 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 Portslade
- Hove · 2 mi
- Brighton · 3 mi
- Worthing · 7 mi
- Rottingdean · 7 mi
- Burgess Hill · 9 mi
- Haywards Heath · 12 mi
- All of East Sussex
Other HMO services in Portslade
- House to HMO conversion in Portslade
- Ensuite installation in Portslade
- Fire alarm and detection systems in Portslade
- Communal kitchen refits in Portslade
- Fire doors in Portslade
- Licence condition and schedule-of-works in Portslade
- Void and between-tenancy refurbs in Portslade
- Professional and co-living HMO refurbs in Portslade