Student HMO refurbishment across County Durham

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. In County Durham we survey first, price each item separately and hand over the certificates and photos a council asks for.

Nation: England
Pricing region: North East
Postcode areas: DL, DH, TS, SR
Main towns: Darlington, Hartlepool, Stockton-on-Tees, Durham, Chester-le-Street

What does student HMO refurbishment in County Durham involve?

Summer works programme agreed in spring
Robust flooring and wipe-clean paint
Photo handover before move-in
Hard-wearing kitchens and worktops
Fire safety checks and upgrades
Broadband and electrics upgrades

Which rules apply in County Durham?

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.
The Fire Safety Order 2005 applies to the common parts of HMOs, enforced by the fire and rescue authority.
BS 7671, the wiring standard, calls for arc fault detection devices in HMOs on new socket circuits, such as rewires and consumer unit changes.
Licences last up to 5 years and carry conditions on gas and electrical safety, alarms, room sizes and waste.

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 County Durham?

Regional adjustment for North East. 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	£3,700 – £8,300	letting room
Communal HMO kitchen with extra cooking and sink capacity (our estimate from domestic ranges)	£8,000 – £18,000	£7,350 – £16,550	kitchen
Shared bathroom refit	£5,500 – £9,000	£5,050 – £8,300	bathroom
Interlinked mains alarm system (Grade D type), small HMO (our estimate from installer guides)	£800 – £2,000	£740 – £1,850	house
Full rewire, 4–5 bedroom house	£6,000 – £12,000	£5,500 – £11,050	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 Durham

Questions about student HMO refurbishment in County Durham

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 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.

Do you carry out student HMO refurbishment across County Durham?

Yes, across the whole of County Durham, including Darlington, Hartlepool, Stockton-on-Tees.

Who licenses HMOs in County Durham?

HMOs in County Durham are licensed by the local council for the address. Where an area has several councils, each runs its own licensing and planning policies.