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. For a house in Exeter we start with a measured survey, check the council’s written HMO standards for the number of sharers, and then price each item separately. Exeter has a university population, so many shared houses are let to students on yearly tenancies, and summer is the main window for works.
- Area
- Devon, England
- Postcodes
- EX2 and EX4
- Location
- 36 miles north-east of Plymouth
- Council
- Exeter City Council
- Pricing region
- South West
What does student HMO refurbishment in Exeter involve?
- Broadband and electrics upgrades
- Summer works programme agreed in spring
- Robust flooring and wipe-clean paint
- Extra bathroom or ensuites
- Fire safety checks and upgrades
Which rules apply in Exeter?
Student HMO refurbishment in Exeter 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:
- Licences last up to 5 years and carry conditions on gas and electrical safety, alarms, room sizes and waste.
- 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.
- BS 7671, the wiring standard, calls for arc fault detection devices in HMOs on new socket circuits, such as rewires and consumer unit changes.
Exeter City Council: local HMO schemes
| Article 4 (HMO) | In force in part of the council area New, larger Article 4 Direction (around the city centre and university) confirmed 28 Mar 2024, in effect 23 Dec 2024, replacing the 2010 direction. |
|---|---|
| Additional licensing | No scheme found |
| Selective licensing | No scheme found |
Schemes change. Check the council’s current pages for the exact address in Exeter before you buy or start work. Source: Exeter City Council HMO licensing page, checked 2026-10-31.
How much does student HMO refurbishment cost in Exeter?
| 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 Exeter follows a site visit.
How long does it take?
Allow 2–8 weeks over summer on site for a typical job. Drawings, approvals and long-lead items such as kitchens or fire door sets are booked before we start.
If the house is let to students, we work backwards from the next tenancy start date in Exeter.
When do Exeter landlords need it?
Typical reasons for this work in Exeter:
- Houses that need to compete with purpose-built student blocks
- Houses let to students on yearly tenancies
Questions about student HMO refurbishment in Exeter
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 cover all of Exeter?
Yes. We work across Exeter and the EX2 and EX4 postcode areas, plus the rest of Devon. Nearby places we also cover include Heavitree, Exmouth, Tiverton.
Which council covers HMOs in Exeter?
Exeter is covered by Exeter City 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 Exeter?
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 Exeter
- Heavitree · 1 mi
- Exmouth · 9 mi
- Tiverton · 12 mi
- Newton Abbot · 14 mi
- Torquay · 18 mi
- Paignton · 20 mi
- All of Devon
Other HMO services in Exeter
- Void and between-tenancy refurbs in Exeter
- Communal kitchen refits in Exeter
- Ensuite installation in Exeter
- HMO fire safety upgrades in Exeter
- Bedroom upgrades and room refits in Exeter
- Full HMO refurbishment in Exeter
- Fire alarm and detection systems in Exeter
- Licence condition and schedule-of-works in Exeter