A small HMO is a shared house for three to six unrelated people. Chichester is 28 miles east of Southampton. We price small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) there against England’s HMO rules and the council’s written HMO standards, so work is planned to the standard an inspection looks for. With students as well as working sharers renting in Chichester, we plan bigger jobs for the gap between academic-year tenancies where we can.
- Area
- West Sussex, England
- Postcodes
- PO19 and PO20
- Location
- 28 miles east of Southampton
- Pricing region
- South East
What do small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in Chichester involve?
- Room-by-room size check before any work starts
- Electrical upgrades and certificate
- Fire doors to rooms off the escape route
- Interlinked smoke and heat detection
- Locks, door closers and thumb-turn locks on the exit route
Which rules apply in Chichester?
Small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in Chichester 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:
- Under the Renters’ Rights Act, civil penalties reach £40,000 for offences such as running an unlicensed HMO.
- 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.
How much do small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) cost in Chichester?
| 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 Chichester can move the figure either way, which is why we quote after seeing the house.
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.
If the house is let to students, we work backwards from the next tenancy start date in Chichester.
When do Chichester landlords need it?
Typical reasons for this work in Chichester:
- 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 Chichester
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.
Which postcodes in Chichester do you work in?
All of them, including PO19 and PO20, and the surrounding parts of West Sussex.
Does a shared house in Chichester 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 Chichester?
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 Chichester
- Bognor Regis · 6 mi
- Havant · 9 mi
- Littlehampton · 11 mi
- Waterlooville · 11 mi
- Portsmouth · 14 mi
- Gosport · 16 mi
- All of West Sussex
Other HMO services in Chichester
- House to HMO conversion in Chichester
- Ensuite installation in Chichester
- Fire alarm and detection systems in Chichester
- Communal kitchen refits in Chichester
- Fire doors in Chichester
- Licence condition and schedule-of-works in Chichester
- Shared bathroom and shower room refits in Chichester
- HMO fire safety upgrades in Chichester