Small HMO conversions across Greater London

In short: A small HMO is a shared house for three to six unrelated people. We carry this out across Greater London, priced against the HMO rules for England and the council’s own standards.

Nation: England
Pricing region: London
Postcode areas: W, E, SW, SE
Main towns: London, Brent, Islington, City of Westminster, Bexley

What do small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in Greater London involve?

Locks, door closers and thumb-turn locks on the exit route
Decoration and durable flooring
Second bathroom, shower room or ensuites
Interlinked smoke and heat detection
Room-by-room size check before any work starts
Kitchen enlarged or refitted for the number of sharers

Which rules apply in Greater London?

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.
Council standards often step up at 5 and 6 sharers, for example a separate WC at 5 and a second bathroom from 6.
7 or more sharers is a sui generis large HMO and normally needs planning permission.
The Fire Safety Order 2005 applies to the common parts of HMOs, enforced by the fire and rescue authority.

Councils in England can add additional licensing and Article 4 directions on top of the national rules. Check the council’s website for the exact address before you buy or start work.

How much do small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) cost in Greater London?

Regional adjustment for London. Planning budgets: see our prices page.
Item	UK typical	Local guide	Per
Typical 3–4 bed house to a 5–6 bed HMO, all-in	£30,000 – £75,000	£38,400 – £96,000	project
Conversion works per letting room (walls, linings, electrics, decoration; excludes kitchens, bathrooms and fire systems; our estimate)	£3,500 – £6,500	£4,500 – £8,300	letting room
Shared bathroom refit	£5,500 – £9,000	£7,050 – £11,500	bathroom
Interlinked mains alarm system (Grade D type), small HMO (our estimate from installer guides)	£800 – £2,000	£1,000 – £2,550	house
FD30S fire door leaf into an existing frame, with seals, closer and hinges, fitted	£300 – £600	£380 – £770	door

Typical time on site: 4–10 weeks. For a figure for your house, try the guide-price tool.

Small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) by town in Greater London

Questions about small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in Greater London

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.

What is the smallest room I can let?

In a licensed HMO in England, a room for one person aged 10 or over must be at least 6.51 square metres, not counting floor under a ceiling lower than 1.5 metres. Councils can set larger sizes, and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own standards. We measure every room before you commit to a layout.

Do you carry out small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) across Greater London?

Yes, across the whole of Greater London, including London, Brent, Islington.

Who licenses HMOs in Greater London?

HMOs in Greater London are licensed by the local council for the address. Where an area has several councils, each runs its own licensing and planning policies.

Small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) across Greater London

What do small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in Greater London involve?

Which rules apply in Greater London?

How much do small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) cost in Greater London?

Small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) by town in Greater London

Questions about small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in Greater London

Other HMO services in Greater London

Planning HMO works?