A small HMO is a shared house for three to six unrelated people. Braintree is 29 miles south-east of Cambridge. We price small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) there against England’s HMO rules and the council’s written HMO standards, so work is planned to the standard an inspection looks for.
- Area
- Essex, England
- Postcodes
- CM7 and CM77
- Location
- 29 miles south-east of Cambridge
- Pricing region
- East of England
What do small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in Braintree involve?
- Interlinked smoke and heat detection
- Electrical upgrades and certificate
- Room-by-room size check before any work starts
- Decoration and durable flooring
- Second bathroom, shower room or ensuites
Which rules apply in Braintree?
Small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in Braintree 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.
- 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 Braintree?
| Item | UK typical | Local guide | Per |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical 3–4 bed house to a 5–6 bed HMO, all-in | £30,000 – £75,000 | £31,800 – £79,500 | project |
| Conversion works per letting room (walls, linings, electrics, decoration; excludes kitchens, bathrooms and fire systems; our estimate) | £3,500 – £6,500 | £3,700 – £6,900 | letting room |
| Shared bathroom refit | £5,500 – £9,000 | £5,850 – £9,550 | bathroom |
| Interlinked mains alarm system (Grade D type), small HMO (our estimate from installer guides) | £800 – £2,000 | £850 – £2,100 | house |
| FD30S fire door leaf into an existing frame, with seals, closer and hinges, fitted | £300 – £600 | £320 – £640 | door |
Prices in Braintree are shown with our regional adjustment for East of England (above the UK average). Your quote is itemised and fixed in writing once the scope and specification are agreed.
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 Braintree landlords need it?
Typical reasons for this work in Braintree:
- 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 Braintree
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 Braintree?
Yes. We work across Braintree and the CM7 and CM77 postcode areas, plus the rest of Essex. Nearby places we also cover include Witham, Chelmsford, Maldon.
Does a shared house in Braintree 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 Braintree?
Our guide ranges for East of England 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 Braintree
- Witham · 7 mi
- Chelmsford · 10 mi
- Maldon · 11 mi
- Sudbury · 13 mi
- Haverhill · 15 mi
- Colchester · 15 mi
- All of Essex
Other HMO services in Braintree
- House to HMO conversion in Braintree
- Ensuite installation in Braintree
- Fire alarm and detection systems in Braintree
- Communal kitchen refits in Braintree
- Fire doors in Braintree
- Licence condition and schedule-of-works in Braintree
- Student HMO refurbishment in Braintree
- Rewires and EICR remedials in Braintree