A small HMO is a shared house for three to six unrelated people. In Caterham, a town of about 21,000 people in Surrey, the work is planned around the HMO rules for England and the council’s written HMO standards.
- Area
- Surrey, England
- Postcodes
- CR3
- Location
- 16 miles south of London
- Pricing region
- South East
What do small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in Caterham involve?
- Electrical upgrades and certificate
- Room-by-room size check before any work starts
- Interlinked smoke and heat detection
- Fire doors to rooms off the escape route
- Decoration and durable flooring
Which rules apply in Caterham?
Here is what usually applies to a Caterham job of this kind. It is general information rather than legal advice, and the council’s written HMO standards have the final detail.
- Licences last up to 5 years and carry conditions on gas and electrical safety, alarms, room sizes and waste.
- 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 Caterham?
| 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 |
Use these as a starting point for budgeting. Access, condition and the council’s requirements in Caterham can move the figure either way, which is why we quote after seeing the house.
How long does it take?
Most jobs of this kind take 4–10 weeks. If a council deadline applies in Caterham, tell us at the first call so the programme is built around it.
When do Caterham landlords need it?
We usually get the call when:
- A three or four-bedroom house you want to let to sharers
- An existing small HMO needs bringing up to date
Questions about small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in Caterham
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.
Do you cover all of Caterham?
Yes. We work across Caterham and the CR3 postcode areas, plus the rest of Surrey. Nearby places we also cover include Coulsdon, Purley, Redhill.
Does a shared house in Caterham 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 Caterham?
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 Caterham
- Coulsdon · 4 mi
- Purley · 4 mi
- Redhill · 5 mi
- South Croydon · 6 mi
- Banstead · 6 mi
- Reigate · 6 mi
- All of Surrey
Other HMO services in Caterham
- House to HMO conversion in Caterham
- Ensuite installation in Caterham
- Fire alarm and detection systems in Caterham
- Communal kitchen refits in Caterham
- Fire doors in Caterham
- Licence condition and schedule-of-works in Caterham
- Escape routes, emergency lighting and fire stopping in Caterham
- Professional and co-living HMO refurbs in Caterham