- Nation
- England
- Pricing region
- South East
- Postcode areas
- RH, PO, BN, GU
- Main towns
- Crawley, Worthing, Bognor Regis, Littlehampton, Horsham
What do small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in West Sussex involve?
- Electrical upgrades and certificate
- Fire doors to rooms off the escape route
- Locks, door closers and thumb-turn locks on the exit route
- Second bathroom, shower room or ensuites
- Room-by-room size check before any work starts
- Interlinked smoke and heat detection
Which rules apply in West Sussex?
- 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.
- 3–6 unrelated sharers is use class C4; changing from a family house is usually permitted development unless an Article 4 direction applies.
- The Fire Safety Order 2005 applies to the common parts of HMOs, enforced by the fire and rescue authority.
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 West Sussex?
| 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 West Sussex
Questions about small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in West Sussex
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.
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.
Do you carry out small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) across West Sussex?
Yes, across the whole of West Sussex, including Crawley, Worthing, Bognor Regis.
Who licenses HMOs in West Sussex?
HMOs in West Sussex are licensed by the local council for the address. Where an area has several councils, each runs its own licensing and planning policies.
Other HMO services in West Sussex
- House to HMO conversion in West Sussex
- Ensuite installation in West Sussex
- Fire alarm and detection systems in West Sussex
- Communal kitchen refits in West Sussex
- Fire doors in West Sussex
- Licence condition and schedule-of-works in West Sussex
- Bedroom upgrades and room refits in West Sussex
- Extensions for extra rooms in West Sussex