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. Cambridge is 30 miles south-east of Peterborough. We price student HMO refurbishment there against England’s HMO rules and the council’s written HMO standards, so work is planned to the standard an inspection looks for. Cambridge has a university population, so many shared houses are let to students on yearly tenancies, and summer is the main window for works.
- Area
- Cambridgeshire, England
- Postcodes
- CB21, CB22, CB23 and CB24
- Location
- 30 miles south-east of Peterborough
- Council
- Cambridge City Council
- Pricing region
- East of England
What does student HMO refurbishment in Cambridge involve?
- Broadband and electrics upgrades
- Extra bathroom or ensuites
- Hard-wearing kitchens and worktops
- Fire safety checks and upgrades
- Summer works programme agreed in spring
Which rules apply in Cambridge?
Here is what usually applies to a Cambridge job of this kind. It is general information rather than legal advice, and the council’s written HMO standards have the final detail.
- Licences last up to 5 years and carry conditions on gas and electrical safety, alarms, room sizes and waste.
- Council standards often step up at 5 and 6 sharers, for example a separate WC at 5 and a second bathroom from 6.
- The Fire Safety Order 2005 applies to the common parts of HMOs, enforced by the fire and rescue authority.
- Electrical installations must be inspected and tested at least every 5 years; remedial work is due within 28 days, or sooner if the report says so.
Cambridge City Council: local HMO schemes
| Article 4 (HMO) | Proposed No small-HMO Article 4 direction in force; after a 2026 petition the council said (July 2026) it is building the case for one. No direction made yet. |
|---|---|
| Additional licensing | No scheme found |
| Selective licensing | No scheme found |
Schemes change. Check the council’s current pages for the exact address in Cambridge before you buy or start work. Source: Cambridge City Council HMO licensing page, checked 2026-10-31.
How much does student HMO refurbishment cost in Cambridge?
| 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 | £4,250 – £9,550 | letting room |
| Communal HMO kitchen with extra cooking and sink capacity (our estimate from domestic ranges) | £8,000 – £18,000 | £8,500 – £19,100 | kitchen |
| Shared bathroom refit | £5,500 – £9,000 | £5,850 – £9,550 | bathroom |
| Interlinked mains alarm system (Grade D type), small HMO (our estimate from installer guides) | £800 – £2,000 | £850 – £2,100 | house |
| Full rewire, 4–5 bedroom house | £6,000 – £12,000 | £6,350 – £12,700 | house |
Use these as a starting point for budgeting. Access, condition and the council’s requirements in Cambridge can move the figure either way, which is why we quote after seeing the house.
How long does it take?
Typical time on site: 2–8 weeks over summer. We agree the programme with you before starting and send photo updates as the work progresses.
If the house is let to students, we work backwards from the next tenancy start date in Cambridge.
When do Cambridge landlords need it?
Typical reasons for this work in Cambridge:
- Houses let to students on yearly tenancies
- Houses that need to compete with purpose-built student blocks
Questions about student HMO refurbishment in Cambridge
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.
Which postcodes in Cambridge do you work in?
All of them, including CB21, CB22, CB23 and CB24, and the surrounding parts of Cambridgeshire.
Which council covers HMOs in Cambridge?
Cambridge is covered by Cambridge City Council. We read the council’s written HMO standards before pricing, and you should check the licence position for the exact address.
How much does student HMO refurbishment cost in Cambridge?
Our guide ranges for East of England 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 Cambridge
- Newmarket · 13 mi
- Ely · 15 mi
- Huntingdon · 16 mi
- Haverhill · 16 mi
- Saint Neots · 16 mi
- Letchworth Garden City · 21 mi
- All of Cambridgeshire
Other HMO services in Cambridge
- Void and between-tenancy refurbs in Cambridge
- Communal kitchen refits in Cambridge
- Ensuite installation in Cambridge
- HMO fire safety upgrades in Cambridge
- Bedroom upgrades and room refits in Cambridge
- Full HMO refurbishment in Cambridge
- Licence condition and schedule-of-works in Cambridge
- Extensions for extra rooms in Cambridge