Student HMO refurbishment across East Sussex

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 East Sussex, priced against the HMO rules for England and the council’s own standards.

Nation: England
Pricing region: South East
Postcode areas: TN, BN, RH
Main towns: Brighton, Eastbourne, Hastings, Hove, Bexhill-on-Sea

What does student HMO refurbishment in East Sussex involve?

Fire safety checks and upgrades
Photo handover before move-in
Study space and sockets in every room
Hard-wearing kitchens and worktops
Extra bathroom or ensuites
Broadband and electrics upgrades

Which rules apply in East Sussex?

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.
The Fire Safety Order 2005 applies to the common parts of HMOs, enforced by the fire and rescue authority.
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.
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 East Sussex?

Regional adjustment for South 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	£4,500 – £10,100	letting room
Communal HMO kitchen with extra cooking and sink capacity (our estimate from domestic ranges)	£8,000 – £18,000	£8,950 – £20,150	kitchen
Shared bathroom refit	£5,500 – £9,000	£6,150 – £10,100	bathroom
Interlinked mains alarm system (Grade D type), small HMO (our estimate from installer guides)	£800 – £2,000	£900 – £2,250	house
Full rewire, 4–5 bedroom house	£6,000 – £12,000	£6,700 – £13,450	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 East Sussex

Questions about student HMO refurbishment in East Sussex

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 East Sussex?

Yes, across the whole of East Sussex, including Brighton, Eastbourne, Hastings.

Who licenses HMOs in East Sussex?

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