A small HMO is a shared house for three to six unrelated people. Landlords in Herne Bay (CT6) 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
- Kent, England
- Postcodes
- CT6
- Location
- 55 miles east of London
- Council
- Canterbury City Council
- Pricing region
- South East
What do small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in Herne Bay involve?
- Fire doors to rooms off the escape route
- Interlinked smoke and heat detection
- Decoration and durable flooring
- Electrical upgrades and certificate
- Locks, door closers and thumb-turn locks on the exit route
Which rules apply in Herne Bay?
Small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in Herne Bay 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.
- 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.
- 7 or more sharers is a sui generis large HMO and normally needs planning permission.
Canterbury City Council: local HMO schemes
| Article 4 (HMO) | In force in part of the council area Article 4 Direction covering named wards or parts of them (incl. Barton, Blean Forest, Northgate, Westgate) since 25 Feb 2016. |
|---|---|
| Additional licensing | Not confirmed: check with the council |
| Selective licensing | Not confirmed: check with the council |
Schemes change. Check the council’s current pages for the exact address in Herne Bay before you buy or start work. Source: Canterbury City Council HMO licensing page, checked 2026-10-31.
How much do small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) cost in Herne Bay?
| Item | UK typical | Local guide | Per |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical 3–4 bed house to a 5–6 bed HMO, all-in | £30,000 – £75,000 | £33,600 – £84,000 | project |
| Conversion works per letting room (walls, linings, electrics, decoration; excludes kitchens, bathrooms and fire systems; our estimate) | £3,500 – £6,500 | £3,900 – £7,300 | letting room |
| Shared bathroom refit | £5,500 – £9,000 | £6,150 – £10,100 | bathroom |
| Interlinked mains alarm system (Grade D type), small HMO (our estimate from installer guides) | £800 – £2,000 | £900 – £2,250 | house |
| FD30S fire door leaf into an existing frame, with seals, closer and hinges, fitted | £300 – £600 | £340 – £670 | door |
Prices in Herne Bay are shown with our regional adjustment for South East (above the UK average). Your quote is itemised and fixed in writing once the scope and specification are agreed.
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 Herne Bay landlords need it?
We usually get the call when:
- 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 Herne Bay
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 Herne Bay?
We cover the whole of Kent and work UK-wide. For Herne Bay the nearest towns on our list are Whitstable (5 miles), Canterbury (7 miles), Faversham (11 miles).
Which council covers HMOs in Herne Bay?
Herne Bay is covered by Canterbury City Council. 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 Herne Bay?
Our guide ranges for South East 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 Herne Bay
- Whitstable · 5 mi
- Canterbury · 7 mi
- Faversham · 11 mi
- Margate · 11 mi
- Saint Peters · 12 mi
- Ramsgate · 13 mi
- All of Kent
Other HMO services in Herne Bay
- House to HMO conversion in Herne Bay
- Ensuite installation in Herne Bay
- Fire alarm and detection systems in Herne Bay
- Communal kitchen refits in Herne Bay
- Fire doors in Herne Bay
- Licence condition and schedule-of-works in Herne Bay
- Commercial and above-shop to HMO in Herne Bay
- HMO fire safety upgrades in Herne Bay