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. For a house in Westhill we start with a measured survey, check the council’s written HMO standards for the number of sharers, and then price each item separately.
- Area
- Aberdeenshire, Scotland
- Postcodes
- AB32
- Location
- 7 miles west of Aberdeen
- Pricing region
- Scotland
What does student HMO refurbishment in Westhill involve?
- Broadband and electrics upgrades
- Photo handover before move-in
- Robust flooring and wipe-clean paint
- Fire safety checks and upgrades
- Hard-wearing kitchens and worktops
Which rules apply in Westhill?
The rules below are the Scotland-wide position for this kind of work. Councils add their own standards and schemes on top, so we always check the address in Westhill before we price.
- 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.
How much does student HMO refurbishment cost in Westhill?
| 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 |
Use these as a starting point for budgeting. Access, condition and the council’s requirements in Westhill can move the figure either way, which is why we quote after seeing the house.
How long does it take?
Allow 2–8 weeks over summer on site for a typical job. Drawings, approvals and long-lead items such as kitchens or fire door sets are booked before we start.
When do Westhill landlords need it?
Landlords in Westhill most often ask us for this when:
- The summer gap between tenancies
- Houses let to students on yearly tenancies
Questions about student HMO refurbishment in Westhill
Do student HMOs need a licence?
The same licensing rules apply as for any HMO. Many university towns also run additional licensing schemes, so we check the address.
How far do you travel from Westhill?
We cover the whole of Aberdeenshire and work UK-wide. For Westhill the nearest towns on our list are Aberdeen (7 miles), Nigg (7 miles), Inverurie (10 miles).
Does a shared house in Westhill need an HMO licence?
Yes, if 3 or more people who are not from one or two families share amenities as their main home: every HMO in Scotland needs a licence from the council, lasting up to 3 years.
How much does student HMO refurbishment cost in Westhill?
Our guide ranges for Scotland 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.
Student HMO refurbishment near Westhill
- Aberdeen · 7 mi
- Nigg · 7 mi
- Inverurie · 10 mi
- Peterhead · 31 mi
- Fraserburgh · 38 mi
- Forfar · 42 mi
- All of Aberdeenshire