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 Chester, a town of around 90,000 people in Cheshire, the work is planned around the HMO rules for England and the council’s written HMO standards. Chester has a university population, so many shared houses are let to students on yearly tenancies, and summer is the main window for works.
- Area
- Cheshire, England
- Postcodes
- CH1, CH3, CH70 and CH88
- Location
- 16 miles south of Liverpool
- Pricing region
- North West
What does student HMO refurbishment in Chester involve?
- Extra bathroom or ensuites
- Broadband and electrics upgrades
- Fire safety checks and upgrades
- Robust flooring and wipe-clean paint
- Hard-wearing kitchens and worktops
Which rules apply in Chester?
Here is what usually applies to a Chester 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.
- Council standards often step up at 5 and 6 sharers, for example a separate WC at 5 and a second bathroom from 6.
- Smoke alarms on every storey with living accommodation and CO alarms by fixed combustion appliances (other than gas cookers) are required by law.
- BS 7671, the wiring standard, calls for arc fault detection devices in HMOs on new socket circuits, such as rewires and consumer unit changes.
How much does student HMO refurbishment cost in Chester?
| 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 | £3,850 – £8,650 | letting room |
| Communal HMO kitchen with extra cooking and sink capacity (our estimate from domestic ranges) | £8,000 – £18,000 | £7,700 – £17,300 | kitchen |
| Shared bathroom refit | £5,500 – £9,000 | £5,300 – £8,650 | bathroom |
| Interlinked mains alarm system (Grade D type), small HMO (our estimate from installer guides) | £800 – £2,000 | £770 – £1,900 | house |
| Full rewire, 4–5 bedroom house | £6,000 – £12,000 | £5,750 – £11,500 | house |
Prices in Chester are shown with our regional adjustment for North West (below the UK average). Your quote is itemised and fixed in writing once the scope and specification are agreed.
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.
For student houses in Chester, booking by spring is the safest way to make the summer gap.
When do Chester landlords need it?
We usually get the call when:
- Houses let to students on yearly tenancies
- The summer gap between tenancies
Questions about student HMO refurbishment in Chester
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.
Do you cover all of Chester?
Yes. We work across Chester and the CH1, CH3, CH70 and CH88 postcode areas, plus the rest of Cheshire. Nearby places we also cover include Hawarden, Deeside, Ellesmere Port Town.
Where do I check the HMO rules for an address in Chester?
With the local council for the address. Councils in England can add additional licensing and Article 4 directions on top of the national rules. Check the council’s website for the exact address before you buy or start work.
How much does student HMO refurbishment cost in Chester?
Our guide ranges for North West 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 Chester
- Hawarden · 6 mi
- Deeside · 6 mi
- Ellesmere Port Town · 6 mi
- Buckley · 8 mi
- Garston · 10 mi
- Speke · 11 mi
- All of Cheshire