A small HMO is a shared house for three to six unrelated people. For a house in Frome we start with a measured survey, check the council’s written HMO standards for the number of sharers, and then price each item separately.
- Area
- Somerset, England
- Postcodes
- BA11
- Location
- 20 miles south-east of Bristol
- Pricing region
- South West
What do small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in Frome involve?
- Electrical upgrades and certificate
- Kitchen enlarged or refitted for the number of sharers
- Locks, door closers and thumb-turn locks on the exit route
- Room-by-room size check before any work starts
- Decoration and durable flooring
Which rules apply in Frome?
Small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in Frome 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 Frome?
| Item | UK typical | Local guide | Per |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical 3–4 bed house to a 5–6 bed HMO, all-in | £30,000 – £75,000 | £31,200 – £78,000 | project |
| Conversion works per letting room (walls, linings, electrics, decoration; excludes kitchens, bathrooms and fire systems; our estimate) | £3,500 – £6,500 | £3,650 – £6,750 | letting room |
| Shared bathroom refit | £5,500 – £9,000 | £5,700 – £9,350 | bathroom |
| Interlinked mains alarm system (Grade D type), small HMO (our estimate from installer guides) | £800 – £2,000 | £830 – £2,100 | house |
| FD30S fire door leaf into an existing frame, with seals, closer and hinges, fitted | £300 – £600 | £310 – £620 | door |
Prices in Frome are shown with our regional adjustment for South West (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 Frome, tell us at the first call so the programme is built around it.
When do Frome landlords need it?
We usually get the call when:
- An existing small HMO needs bringing up to date
- A three or four-bedroom house you want to let to sharers
Questions about small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in Frome
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.
Which postcodes in Frome do you work in?
All of them, including BA11, and the surrounding parts of Somerset.
Does a shared house in Frome 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 Frome?
Our guide ranges for South West 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 Frome
- Trowbridge · 8 mi
- Bath · 10 mi
- Mendip · 13 mi
- Kingswood · 17 mi
- Chippenham · 18 mi
- Mangotsfield · 20 mi
- All of Somerset