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 Edinburgh, a city of around 500,000 people, the work is planned around the HMO rules for Scotland and the council’s written HMO standards. Edinburgh has a university population, so many shared houses are let to students on yearly tenancies, and summer is the main window for works.
- Area
- City of Edinburgh, Scotland
- Postcodes
- EH1, EH2, EH3 and EH6
- Location
- 42 miles east of Glasgow
- Council
- City of Edinburgh Council
- Pricing region
- Scotland
What does student HMO refurbishment in Edinburgh involve?
- Extra bathroom or ensuites
- Broadband and electrics upgrades
- Fire safety checks and upgrades
- Study space and sockets in every room
- Hard-wearing kitchens and worktops
Which rules apply in Edinburgh?
Student HMO refurbishment in Edinburgh must satisfy national law for Scotland, the council’s written HMO standards and, where walls, drainage or fire separation change, the building rules. In short:
- Landlords must also be on the Scottish landlord register, renewed every 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 Edinburgh?
| 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 |
Prices in Edinburgh are shown with our regional adjustment for Scotland (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.
If the house is let to students, we work backwards from the next tenancy start date in Edinburgh.
When do Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh
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.
Which postcodes in Edinburgh do you work in?
All of them, including EH1, EH2, EH3 and EH6, and the surrounding parts of City of Edinburgh.
Which council covers HMOs in Edinburgh?
Edinburgh is covered by City of Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh?
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 Edinburgh
- Musselburgh · 6 mi
- Dalkeith · 6 mi
- Bonnyrigg · 6 mi
- Mayfield · 8 mi
- Penicuik · 8 mi
- Broxburn · 11 mi
- All of City of Edinburgh
Other HMO services in Edinburgh
- Void and between-tenancy refurbs in Edinburgh
- Communal kitchen refits in Edinburgh
- Ensuite installation in Edinburgh
- HMO fire safety upgrades in Edinburgh
- Bedroom upgrades and room refits in Edinburgh
- Full HMO refurbishment in Edinburgh
- EPC and energy upgrades in Edinburgh
- Loft conversions for extra rooms in Edinburgh