A small HMO is a shared house for three to six unrelated people. Landlords in Greenwich (SE8, SE10 and SE14) 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. Greenwich has a university population, so many shared houses are let to students on yearly tenancies, and summer is the main window for works.
- Area
- Greater London, England
- Postcodes
- SE8, SE10 and SE14
- Location
- 5 miles south-east of London
- Pricing region
- London
What do small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in Greenwich involve?
- Fire doors to rooms off the escape route
- Second bathroom, shower room or ensuites
- Room-by-room size check before any work starts
- Locks, door closers and thumb-turn locks on the exit route
- Electrical upgrades and certificate
Which rules apply in Greenwich?
Small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in Greenwich 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.
- 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 Greenwich?
| 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 Greenwich 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.
If the house is let to students, we work backwards from the next tenancy start date in Greenwich.
When do Greenwich landlords need it?
Typical reasons for this work in Greenwich:
- An existing small HMO needs bringing up to date
- You want a three to six sharer layout that fits the local planning rules
Questions about small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in Greenwich
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.
How far do you travel from Greenwich?
We cover the whole of Greater London and work UK-wide. For Greenwich the nearest towns on our list are Blackheath (1 miles), Canary Wharf (2 miles), Catford (2 miles).
Where do I check the HMO rules for an address in Greenwich?
With the local council for the address. 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 Greenwich?
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 Greenwich
- Blackheath · 1 mi
- Canary Wharf · 2 mi
- Catford · 2 mi
- Peckham · 3 mi
- Canning Town · 3 mi
- Eltham · 3 mi
- All of Greater London
Other HMO services in Greenwich
- House to HMO conversion in Greenwich
- Ensuite installation in Greenwich
- Fire alarm and detection systems in Greenwich
- Communal kitchen refits in Greenwich
- Fire doors in Greenwich
- Licence condition and schedule-of-works in Greenwich
- Full HMO refurbishment in Greenwich
- Layout changes and room reconfiguration in Greenwich