- Nation
- England
- Pricing region
- South East
- Postcode areas
- GU, RH, KT, TW
- Main towns
- Woking, Guildford, Esher, Redhill, Staines
What do small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in Surrey involve?
- Second bathroom, shower room or ensuites
- Locks, door closers and thumb-turn locks on the exit route
- Room-by-room size check before any work starts
- Decoration and durable flooring
- Electrical upgrades and certificate
- Fire doors to rooms off the escape route
Which rules apply in Surrey?
- 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.
- 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.
- Fire precautions follow a risk assessment; the LACORS Housing – Fire Safety guide (2008) is guidance, not law, but many councils base their standards on it.
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 Surrey?
| 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 |
Typical time on site: 4–10 weeks. For a figure for your house, try the guide-price tool.
Small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) by town in Surrey
- Woking
- Guildford
- Esher
- Redhill
- Staines
- Banstead
- Leatherhead
- Aldershot
- Ewell
- Farnham
- Epsom
- Camberley
- Egham
- Sunbury-on-Thames
- Ashford (Surrey)
- Walton-on-Thames
- Godalming
- Reigate
- Horley
- Caterham
Questions about small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in Surrey
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.
Can I keep a lounge in a small HMO?
Yes, and many councils expect some shared living space where bedrooms are at the smaller end of the size range. We plan the layout so the house works for sharers and meets the local standard.
Do you carry out small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) across Surrey?
Yes, across the whole of Surrey, including Woking, Guildford, Esher.
Who licenses HMOs in Surrey?
HMOs in Surrey are licensed by the local council for the address. Where an area has several councils, each runs its own licensing and planning policies.