A small HMO is a shared house for three to six unrelated people. Landlords in Acton (W3) 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.
- Area
- Greater London, England
- Postcodes
- W3
- Location
- 6 miles west of London
- Council
- London Borough of Ealing
- Pricing region
- London
What do small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in Acton involve?
- Kitchen enlarged or refitted for the number of sharers
- Decoration and durable flooring
- Electrical upgrades and certificate
- Interlinked smoke and heat detection
- Locks, door closers and thumb-turn locks on the exit route
Which rules apply in Acton?
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 Acton 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.
- 7 or more sharers is a sui generis large HMO and normally needs planning permission.
London Borough of Ealing: local HMO schemes
| Article 4 (HMO) | In force across the council area Immediate direction for Perivale from 30 Oct 2024 and non-immediate direction for the rest of the borough from 2025. |
|---|---|
| Additional licensing | In force across the council area Borough-wide additional licensing 1 Apr 2022-31 Mar 2027; renewal consulted 15 Jul-24 Sep 2026. |
| Selective licensing | In force in part of the council area Two designations covering most wards: 1 Apr 2022-31 Mar 2027 (e.g. Southall, East/North Acton) and 3 Jan 2023-2 Jan 2028 (e.g. Greenford, Northolt, Perivale, Ealing Common). |
Schemes change. Check the council’s current pages for the exact address in Acton before you buy or start work. Source: London Borough of Ealing HMO licensing page, checked 2026-10-31.
How much do small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) cost in Acton?
| 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 |
These are typical ranges including VAT, adjusted for London, where costs run above the UK average. The fixed price for a house in Acton follows a site visit.
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 Acton landlords need it?
We usually get the call 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 Acton
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 cover all of Acton?
Yes. We work across Acton and the W3 postcode areas, plus the rest of Greater London. Nearby places we also cover include Chiswick, Shepherds Bush, Willesden.
Which council covers HMOs in Acton?
Acton is covered by London Borough of Ealing. 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 Acton?
Our guide ranges for London 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 Acton
- Chiswick · 1 mi
- Shepherds Bush · 2 mi
- Willesden · 2 mi
- Barnes · 3 mi
- Notting Hill · 3 mi
- Wembley · 3 mi
- All of Greater London