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 St Austell, a town of about 24,000 people in Cornwall, the work is planned around the HMO rules for England and the council’s written HMO standards.
- Area
- Cornwall, England
- Postcodes
- PL25
- Location
- 28 miles west of Plymouth
- Pricing region
- South West
What does student HMO refurbishment in St Austell involve?
- Broadband and electrics upgrades
- Fire safety checks and upgrades
- Photo handover before move-in
- Study space and sockets in every room
- Hard-wearing kitchens and worktops
Which rules apply in St Austell?
Student HMO refurbishment in St Austell must satisfy national law for England, the council’s written HMO standards and, where walls, drainage or fire separation change, the building rules. In short:
- Mandatory HMO licence for 5 or more people in 2 or more households (since October 2018); councils can add additional licensing for smaller HMOs.
- Council standards often step up at 5 and 6 sharers, for example a separate WC at 5 and a second bathroom from 6.
- 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.
- 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 St Austell?
| 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 |
These are typical ranges including VAT, adjusted for South West, where costs run above the UK average. The fixed price for a house in St Austell follows a site visit.
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 St Austell landlords need it?
We usually get the call when:
- The summer gap between tenancies
- Houses that need to compete with purpose-built student blocks
Questions about student HMO refurbishment in St Austell
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.
How far do you travel from St Austell?
We cover the whole of Cornwall and work UK-wide. For St Austell the nearest towns on our list are Truro (13 miles), Newquay (14 miles), Falmouth (18 miles).
Where do I check the HMO rules for an address in St Austell?
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 St Austell?
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 St Austell
- Truro · 13 mi
- Newquay · 14 mi
- Falmouth · 18 mi
- Redruth · 21 mi
- Camborne · 25 mi
- Plymouth · 28 mi
- All of Cornwall
Other HMO services in St Austell
- Void and between-tenancy refurbs in St Austell
- Communal kitchen refits in St Austell
- Ensuite installation in St Austell
- HMO fire safety upgrades in St Austell
- Bedroom upgrades and room refits in St Austell
- Full HMO refurbishment in St Austell
- Rewires and EICR remedials in St Austell
- House to HMO conversion in St Austell