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 Falmouth, a town of about 32,000 people in Cornwall, the work is planned around the HMO rules for England and the council’s written HMO standards.
- Area
- Cornwall, England
- Postcodes
- TR10 and TR11
- Location
- 44 miles west of Plymouth
- Pricing region
- South West
What does student HMO refurbishment in Falmouth involve?
- Broadband and electrics upgrades
- Hard-wearing kitchens and worktops
- Fire safety checks and upgrades
- Photo handover before move-in
- Study space and sockets in every room
Which rules apply in Falmouth?
Here is what usually applies to a Falmouth job of this kind. It is general information rather than legal advice, and the council’s written HMO standards have the final detail.
- Mandatory HMO licence for 5 or more people in 2 or more households (since October 2018); councils can add additional licensing for smaller HMOs.
- National rules ask for an adequate number of bathrooms, WCs and basins and suitably located kitchens; numeric ratios are set by each council.
- Fire precautions follow a risk assessment; the LACORS Housing – Fire Safety guide (2008) is guidance, not law, but many councils base their standards on it.
- 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 Falmouth?
| 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 | £4,150 – £9,350 | letting room |
| Communal HMO kitchen with extra cooking and sink capacity (our estimate from domestic ranges) | £8,000 – £18,000 | £8,300 – £18,700 | kitchen |
| Shared bathroom refit | £5,500 – £9,000 | £5,700 – £9,350 | bathroom |
| Interlinked mains alarm system (Grade D type), small HMO (our estimate from installer guides) | £800 – £2,000 | £830 – £2,100 | house |
| Full rewire, 4–5 bedroom house | £6,000 – £12,000 | £6,250 – £12,500 | house |
Use these as a starting point for budgeting. Access, condition and the council’s requirements in Falmouth 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.
When do Falmouth landlords need it?
We usually get the call when:
- Houses that need to compete with purpose-built student blocks
- Houses let to students on yearly tenancies
Questions about student HMO refurbishment in Falmouth
When should I book a summer student refurbishment?
By spring if you can. The window between tenancies is short and contractors in university towns book up quickly.
Which postcodes in Falmouth do you work in?
All of them, including TR10 and TR11, and the surrounding parts of Cornwall.
Where do I check the HMO rules for an address in Falmouth?
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 Falmouth?
Our guide ranges for South 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 Falmouth
- Truro · 8 mi
- Redruth · 9 mi
- Camborne · 11 mi
- Newquay · 18 mi
- St Austell · 18 mi
- Plymouth · 44 mi
- All of Cornwall
Other HMO services in Falmouth
- Void and between-tenancy refurbs in Falmouth
- Communal kitchen refits in Falmouth
- Ensuite installation in Falmouth
- HMO fire safety upgrades in Falmouth
- Bedroom upgrades and room refits in Falmouth
- Full HMO refurbishment in Falmouth
- Licence condition and schedule-of-works in Falmouth
- EPC and energy upgrades in Falmouth