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 Dumfries and Galloway, priced against the HMO rules for Scotland and the council’s own standards.
- Nation
- Scotland
- Pricing region
- Scotland
- Postcode areas
- DG, KA, ML
- Main towns
- Dumfries
What does student HMO refurbishment in Dumfries and Galloway involve?
- Photo handover before move-in
- Fire safety checks and upgrades
- Study space and sockets in every room
- Extra bathroom or ensuites
- Hard-wearing kitchens and worktops
- Robust flooring and wipe-clean paint
Which rules apply in Dumfries and Galloway?
- Every HMO needs a council licence: 3 or more people who are not all from one or two families, sharing basic amenities. Licences last up to 3 years.
- Kitchen, WC and bathroom ratios come from council standards; one WC and one bath or shower per 5 people is a common figure.
- The tolerable standard requires interlinked smoke alarms in the main living room and circulation spaces and a heat alarm in the kitchen; licensed HMOs must meet the council’s higher standard.
- An EICR before the first let and at least every 5 years, with C1 and C2 items fixed, PAT testing of supplied appliances and RCD protection.
- Landlords must also be on the Scottish landlord register, renewed every 3 years.
Scottish councils set their own HMO licence standards and planning policies. Every HMO needs a licence, so check the council’s standards before you design the layout.
How much does student HMO refurbishment cost in Dumfries and Galloway?
| 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 | £3,800 – £8,550 | letting room |
| Communal HMO kitchen with extra cooking and sink capacity (our estimate from domestic ranges) | £8,000 – £18,000 | £7,600 – £17,100 | kitchen |
| Shared bathroom refit | £5,500 – £9,000 | £5,200 – £8,550 | bathroom |
| Interlinked mains alarm system (Grade D type), small HMO (our estimate from installer guides) | £800 – £2,000 | £760 – £1,900 | house |
| Full rewire, 4–5 bedroom house | £6,000 – £12,000 | £5,700 – £11,400 | 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 Dumfries and Galloway
Questions about student HMO refurbishment in Dumfries and Galloway
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.
Can you work around a 1 July or 1 September start?
Yes. We agree a programme backwards from the move-in date and tell you early if anything is at risk.
Do you carry out student HMO refurbishment across Dumfries and Galloway?
Yes, across the whole of Dumfries and Galloway, including Dumfries.
Who licenses HMOs in Dumfries and Galloway?
Dumfries and Galloway council licenses HMOs in its area. Every HMO in Scotland needs a licence.
Other HMO services in Dumfries and Galloway
- Void and between-tenancy refurbs in Dumfries and Galloway
- Communal kitchen refits in Dumfries and Galloway
- Ensuite installation in Dumfries and Galloway
- HMO fire safety upgrades in Dumfries and Galloway
- Bedroom upgrades and room refits in Dumfries and Galloway
- Full HMO refurbishment in Dumfries and Galloway
- Extensions for extra rooms in Dumfries and Galloway
- Small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in Dumfries and Galloway