In short: A student HMO refurbishment upgrades a shared house let to students, using hard-wearing finishes and planned around the academic year so the work is finished before the next tenancy starts. In Aberdeenshire we survey first, price each item separately and hand over the certificates and photos a council asks for.
- Nation
- Scotland
- Pricing region
- Scotland
- Postcode areas
- AB, DD
- Main towns
- Peterhead, Nigg, Inverurie, Fraserburgh, Westhill
What does student HMO refurbishment in Aberdeenshire involve?
- Hard-wearing kitchens and worktops
- Photo handover before move-in
- Fire safety checks and upgrades
- Extra bathroom or ensuites
- Robust flooring and wipe-clean paint
- Broadband and electrics upgrades
Which rules apply in Aberdeenshire?
- Every HMO needs a council licence: 3 or more people who are not all from one or two families, sharing basic amenities. Licences last up to 3 years.
- Kitchen, WC and bathroom ratios come from council standards; one WC and one bath or shower per 5 people is a common figure.
- The tolerable standard requires interlinked smoke alarms in the main living room and circulation spaces and a heat alarm in the kitchen; licensed HMOs must meet the council’s higher standard.
- An EICR before the first let and at least every 5 years, with C1 and C2 items fixed, PAT testing of supplied appliances and RCD protection.
- Landlords must also be on the Scottish landlord register, renewed every 3 years.
Scottish councils set their own HMO licence standards and planning policies. Every HMO needs a licence, so check the council’s standards before you design the layout.
How much does student HMO refurbishment cost in Aberdeenshire?
| Item | UK typical | Local guide | Per |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full refurbishment per letting room, with a share of communal areas (excludes kitchens, bathrooms and fire systems; our estimate) | £4,000 – £9,000 | £3,800 – £8,550 | letting room |
| Communal HMO kitchen with extra cooking and sink capacity (our estimate from domestic ranges) | £8,000 – £18,000 | £7,600 – £17,100 | kitchen |
| Shared bathroom refit | £5,500 – £9,000 | £5,200 – £8,550 | bathroom |
| Interlinked mains alarm system (Grade D type), small HMO (our estimate from installer guides) | £800 – £2,000 | £760 – £1,900 | house |
| Full rewire, 4–5 bedroom house | £6,000 – £12,000 | £5,700 – £11,400 | house |
Typical time on site: 2–8 weeks over summer. For a figure for your house, try the guide-price tool.
Student HMO refurbishment by town in Aberdeenshire
Questions about student HMO refurbishment in Aberdeenshire
Can you work around a 1 July or 1 September start?
Yes. We agree a programme backwards from the move-in date and tell you early if anything is at risk.
When should I book a summer student refurbishment?
By spring if you can. The window between tenancies is short and contractors in university towns book up quickly.
Do you carry out student HMO refurbishment across Aberdeenshire?
Yes, across the whole of Aberdeenshire, including Peterhead, Nigg, Inverurie.
Who licenses HMOs in Aberdeenshire?
Aberdeenshire council licenses HMOs in its area. Every HMO in Scotland needs a licence.
Other HMO services in Aberdeenshire
- Void and between-tenancy refurbs in Aberdeenshire
- Communal kitchen refits in Aberdeenshire
- Ensuite installation in Aberdeenshire
- HMO fire safety upgrades in Aberdeenshire
- Bedroom upgrades and room refits in Aberdeenshire
- Full HMO refurbishment in Aberdeenshire
- Loft conversions for extra rooms in Aberdeenshire
- Damp, mould and HHSRS repairs in Aberdeenshire