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. We carry this out across Blaenau Gwent, priced against the HMO rules for Wales and the council’s own standards.
- Nation
- Wales
- Pricing region
- Wales
- Postcode areas
- NP
- Main towns
- Ebbw Vale, Tredegar
What does student HMO refurbishment in Blaenau Gwent involve?
- Broadband and electrics upgrades
- Fire safety checks and upgrades
- Study space and sockets in every room
- Hard-wearing kitchens and worktops
- Summer works programme agreed in spring
- Robust flooring and wipe-clean paint
Which rules apply in Blaenau Gwent?
- Mandatory licence for HMOs with 3 or more storeys and 5 or more people in 2 or more households; Wales did not adopt England’s 2018 change.
- Kitchen and bathroom ratios are set in each council’s HMO standards.
- Fitness for human habitation rules require mains-powered, interlinked smoke alarms on every storey and CO alarms where there is a gas, oil or solid-fuel appliance.
- An electrical inspection and test at least every 5 years, with the report given to the contract-holder within 14 days.
- Councils such as Cardiff and Swansea run additional licensing for HMOs outside the mandatory scheme.
Welsh councils set their own HMO standards and may run additional licensing. In Wales, changing a house to a C4 HMO always needs planning permission, so check planning first.
How much does student HMO refurbishment cost in Blaenau Gwent?
| 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 | £3,750 – £8,450 | letting room |
| Communal HMO kitchen with extra cooking and sink capacity (our estimate from domestic ranges) | £8,000 – £18,000 | £7,500 – £16,900 | kitchen |
| Shared bathroom refit | £5,500 – £9,000 | £5,150 – £8,450 | bathroom |
| Interlinked mains alarm system (Grade D type), small HMO (our estimate from installer guides) | £800 – £2,000 | £750 – £1,900 | house |
| Full rewire, 4–5 bedroom house | £6,000 – £12,000 | £5,650 – £11,300 | 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 Blaenau Gwent
Questions about student HMO refurbishment in Blaenau Gwent
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.
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.
Do you carry out student HMO refurbishment across Blaenau Gwent?
Yes, across the whole of Blaenau Gwent, including Ebbw Vale, Tredegar.
Who licenses HMOs in Blaenau Gwent?
Blaenau Gwent council licenses HMOs in its area. Landlords must also register with Rent Smart Wales.
Other HMO services in Blaenau Gwent
- Void and between-tenancy refurbs in Blaenau Gwent
- Communal kitchen refits in Blaenau Gwent
- Ensuite installation in Blaenau Gwent
- HMO fire safety upgrades in Blaenau Gwent
- Bedroom upgrades and room refits in Blaenau Gwent
- Full HMO refurbishment in Blaenau Gwent
- Professional and co-living HMO refurbs in Blaenau Gwent
- Commercial and above-shop to HMO in Blaenau Gwent