A small HMO is a shared house for three to six unrelated people. In London, a city of over a million people, the work is planned around the HMO rules for England and the council’s written HMO standards.
- Area
- Greater London, England
- Postcodes
- EC1A, EC1M, EC1N and EC1R
- Pricing region
- London
What do small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in London involve?
- Interlinked smoke and heat detection
- Room-by-room size check before any work starts
- Locks, door closers and thumb-turn locks on the exit route
- Decoration and durable flooring
- Fire doors to rooms off the escape route
Which rules apply in London?
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 London before we price.
- 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.
- 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 London?
| 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 |
Prices in London are shown with our regional adjustment for London (above the UK average). Your quote is itemised and fixed in writing once the scope and specification are agreed.
How long does it take?
Most jobs of this kind take 4–10 weeks. If a council deadline applies in London, tell us at the first call so the programme is built around it.
When do London landlords need it?
We usually get the call when:
- 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 London
How many bathrooms does a small HMO need?
National rules in England say amenities must be adequate for the number of sharers, and councils set the numbers: often a bathroom plus a separate WC at five people and a second bathroom from six. We work to the figure your council publishes.
How far do you travel from London?
We cover the whole of Greater London and work UK-wide. For London the nearest towns on our list are City of Westminster (1 miles), Pimlico (1 miles), Islington (2 miles).
Does a shared house in London 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 London?
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 London
- City of Westminster · 1 mi
- Pimlico · 1 mi
- Islington · 2 mi
- Camden Town · 2 mi
- Chelsea · 2 mi
- Chalk Farm · 3 mi
- All of Greater London