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 Brighton we start with a measured survey, check the council’s written HMO standards for the number of sharers, and then price each item separately. Brighton has a university population, so many shared houses are let to students on yearly tenancies, and summer is the main window for works.
- Area
- East Sussex, England
- Postcodes
- BN1, BN2 and BN3
- Location
- 47 miles south of London
- Council
- Brighton & Hove City Council
- Pricing region
- South East
What does student HMO refurbishment in Brighton involve?
- Photo handover before move-in
- Robust flooring and wipe-clean paint
- Study space and sockets in every room
- Hard-wearing kitchens and worktops
- Summer works programme agreed in spring
Which rules apply in Brighton?
Here is what usually applies to a Brighton job of this kind. It is general information rather than legal advice, and the council’s written HMO standards have the final detail.
- 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.
Brighton & Hove City Council: local HMO schemes
| Article 4 (HMO) | In force across the council area City-wide C3-C4 Article 4 Direction confirmed Jan 2020 and in force June 2020 (replaced the 2013 five-ward direction). |
|---|---|
| Additional licensing | In force across the council area Additional licensing across all 23 wards 1 Jul 2024-30 Jun 2029. |
| Selective licensing | In force in part of the council area Kemptown, Moulsecoomb & Bevendean, Queen's Park, Whitehawk & Marina 2 Sep 2024-1 Sep 2029. Central Hove & Regency designation (made 6 Jul 2026, due 20 Oct 2026) is paused pending a legal challenge. |
Schemes change. Check the council’s current pages for the exact address in Brighton before you buy or start work. Source: Brighton & Hove City Council HMO licensing page, checked 2026-10-31.
How much does student HMO refurbishment cost in Brighton?
| 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 |
Use these as a starting point for budgeting. Access, condition and the council’s requirements in Brighton can move the figure either way, which is why we quote after seeing the house.
How long does it take?
Most jobs of this kind take 2–8 weeks over summer. If a council deadline applies in Brighton, tell us at the first call so the programme is built around it.
For student houses in Brighton, booking by spring is the safest way to make the summer gap.
When do Brighton landlords need it?
Typical reasons for this work in Brighton:
- Houses that need to compete with purpose-built student blocks
- The summer gap between tenancies
Questions about student HMO refurbishment in Brighton
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 Brighton?
We cover the whole of East Sussex and work UK-wide. For Brighton the nearest towns on our list are Hove (1 miles), Portslade (3 miles), Rottingdean (4 miles).
Which council covers HMOs in Brighton?
Brighton is covered by Brighton & Hove 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 Brighton?
Our guide ranges for South East 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 Brighton
- Hove · 1 mi
- Portslade · 3 mi
- Rottingdean · 4 mi
- Burgess Hill · 9 mi
- Worthing · 10 mi
- Seaford · 11 mi
- All of East Sussex
Other HMO services in Brighton
- Void and between-tenancy refurbs in Brighton
- Communal kitchen refits in Brighton
- Ensuite installation in Brighton
- HMO fire safety upgrades in Brighton
- Bedroom upgrades and room refits in Brighton
- Full HMO refurbishment in Brighton
- EPC and energy upgrades in Brighton
- Commercial and above-shop to HMO in Brighton