Student HMO refurbishment across County Down

In short: 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. We carry this out across County Down, priced against the HMO rules for Northern Ireland and the council’s own standards.

Nation: Northern Ireland
Pricing region: Northern Ireland
Postcode areas: BT
Main towns: Bangor (County Down), Banbridge, Holywood

What does student HMO refurbishment in County Down involve?

Summer works programme agreed in spring
Robust flooring and wipe-clean paint
Fire safety checks and upgrades
Broadband and electrics upgrades
Study space and sockets in every room
Hard-wearing kitchens and worktops

Which rules apply in County Down?

Licences usually last 5 years, and landlords must also register with the NI landlord registration scheme.
Kitchens, bathrooms and WCs must meet the 2019 living accommodation standard regulations and licence conditions.
The NIFRS HMO Fire Safety Guide (July 2026) usually expects Grade D1 interlinked detection in smaller shared houses and a Grade A system with more than 6 occupants or over 200 m².
HMO licence conditions require a satisfactory EICR at least every 5 years.
Doors on protected routes are typically FD30 or FD30S, self-closing on three hinges; emergency lighting is required in HMOs of 4 or more storeys.

In Northern Ireland, licensing is run centrally by the NI HMO Unit, and all new HMOs need planning permission and building control approval from the local council.

How much does student HMO refurbishment cost in County Down?

Regional adjustment for Northern Ireland. Planning budgets: see our prices page.
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	£3,600 – £8,100	letting room
Communal HMO kitchen with extra cooking and sink capacity (our estimate from domestic ranges)	£8,000 – £18,000	£7,200 – £16,200	kitchen
Shared bathroom refit	£5,500 – £9,000	£4,950 – £8,100	bathroom
Interlinked mains alarm system (Grade D type), small HMO (our estimate from installer guides)	£800 – £2,000	£720 – £1,800	house
Full rewire, 4–5 bedroom house	£6,000 – £12,000	£5,400 – £10,800	house

Typical time on site: 2–8 weeks over summer. For a figure for your house, try the guide-price tool.

Student HMO refurbishment by town in County Down

Questions about student HMO refurbishment in County Down

Do student HMOs need a licence?

The same licensing rules apply as for any HMO. Many university towns also run additional licensing schemes, so we check the address.

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.

Do you carry out student HMO refurbishment across County Down?

Yes, across the whole of County Down, including Bangor (County Down), Banbridge, Holywood.

Who licenses HMOs in County Down?

HMO licensing in County Down, as everywhere in Northern Ireland, is run by the NI HMO Unit at Belfast City Council. Planning and building control are handled by the local council.