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. Christchurch is 20 miles south-west of Southampton. We price student HMO refurbishment there against England’s HMO rules and the council’s written HMO standards, so work is planned to the standard an inspection looks for.
- Area
- Dorset, England
- Postcodes
- BH6 and BH23
- Location
- 20 miles south-west of Southampton
- Pricing region
- South West
What does student HMO refurbishment in Christchurch involve?
- Summer works programme agreed in spring
- Broadband and electrics upgrades
- Hard-wearing kitchens and worktops
- Robust flooring and wipe-clean paint
- Photo handover before move-in
Which rules apply in Christchurch?
Student HMO refurbishment in Christchurch 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 Christchurch?
| 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 Christchurch follows a site visit.
How long does it take?
Most jobs of this kind take 2–8 weeks over summer. If a council deadline applies in Christchurch, tell us at the first call so the programme is built around it.
When do Christchurch landlords need it?
Typical reasons for this work in Christchurch:
- Houses let to students on yearly tenancies
- Houses that need to compete with purpose-built student blocks
Questions about student HMO refurbishment in Christchurch
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 Christchurch?
We cover the whole of Dorset and work UK-wide. For Christchurch the nearest towns on our list are Bournemouth (4 miles), New Milton (5 miles), Poole (9 miles).
Does a shared house in Christchurch need an HMO licence?
In England, a mandatory licence is needed for 5 or more people from 2 or more households. Smaller HMOs can need a licence where the council runs additional licensing, which is common in towns with many shared houses. Check the council’s website for the address.
How much does student HMO refurbishment cost in Christchurch?
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 Christchurch
- Bournemouth · 4 mi
- New Milton · 5 mi
- Poole · 9 mi
- Totton · 18 mi
- Hythe · 19 mi
- Southampton · 20 mi
- All of Dorset
Other HMO services in Christchurch
- Void and between-tenancy refurbs in Christchurch
- Communal kitchen refits in Christchurch
- Ensuite installation in Christchurch
- HMO fire safety upgrades in Christchurch
- Bedroom upgrades and room refits in Christchurch
- Full HMO refurbishment in Christchurch
- Damp, mould and HHSRS repairs in Christchurch
- Loft conversions for extra rooms in Christchurch