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 Ely 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
- Cambridgeshire, England
- Postcodes
- CB6 and CB7
- Location
- 15 miles north-east of Cambridge
- Pricing region
- East of England
What does student HMO refurbishment in Ely involve?
- Fire safety checks and upgrades
- Extra bathroom or ensuites
- Hard-wearing kitchens and worktops
- Photo handover before move-in
- Broadband and electrics upgrades
Which rules apply in Ely?
Here is what usually applies to a Ely job of this kind. It is general information rather than legal advice, and the council’s written HMO standards have the final detail.
- Under the Renters’ Rights Act, civil penalties reach £40,000 for offences such as running an unlicensed HMO.
- National rules ask for an adequate number of bathrooms, WCs and basins and suitably located kitchens; numeric ratios are set by each council.
- Smoke alarms on every storey with living accommodation and CO alarms by fixed combustion appliances (other than gas cookers) are required by law.
- 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.
How much does student HMO refurbishment cost in Ely?
| 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 |
These are typical ranges including VAT, adjusted for East of England, where costs run above the UK average. The fixed price for a house in Ely follows a site visit.
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 Ely landlords need it?
Landlords in Ely most often ask us for this when:
- Houses that need to compete with purpose-built student blocks
- The summer gap between tenancies
Questions about student HMO refurbishment in Ely
What finishes last best in student houses?
Commercial-grade vinyl or laminate, quartz-effect laminate worktops, wipe-clean paint and good extraction to keep condensation down.
How far do you travel from Ely?
We cover the whole of Cambridgeshire and work UK-wide. For Ely the nearest towns on our list are Newmarket (12 miles), March (13 miles), Cambridge (15 miles).
Does a shared house in Ely 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 does student HMO refurbishment cost in Ely?
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 Ely
- Newmarket · 12 mi
- March · 13 mi
- Cambridge · 15 mi
- Wisbech · 19 mi
- Huntingdon · 20 mi
- Thetford · 21 mi
- All of Cambridgeshire