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. In Colchester, a place of roughly 130,000 people in Essex, the work is planned around the HMO rules for England and the council’s written HMO standards. Colchester has a university population, so many shared houses are let to students on yearly tenancies, and summer is the main window for works.
- Area
- Essex, England
- Postcodes
- CO1 and CO2
- Location
- 40 miles south-east of Cambridge
- Pricing region
- East of England
What does student HMO refurbishment in Colchester involve?
- Extra bathroom or ensuites
- Hard-wearing kitchens and worktops
- Summer works programme agreed in spring
- Study space and sockets in every room
- Robust flooring and wipe-clean paint
Which rules apply in Colchester?
Here is what usually applies to a Colchester job of this kind. It is general information rather than legal advice, and the council’s written HMO standards have the final detail.
- Under the Renters’ Rights Act, civil penalties reach £40,000 for offences such as running an unlicensed HMO.
- National rules ask for an adequate number of bathrooms, WCs and basins and suitably located kitchens; numeric ratios are set by each council.
- Smoke alarms on every storey with living accommodation and CO alarms by fixed combustion appliances (other than gas cookers) are required by law.
- 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 Colchester?
| 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 | £4,250 – £9,550 | letting room |
| Communal HMO kitchen with extra cooking and sink capacity (our estimate from domestic ranges) | £8,000 – £18,000 | £8,500 – £19,100 | kitchen |
| Shared bathroom refit | £5,500 – £9,000 | £5,850 – £9,550 | bathroom |
| Interlinked mains alarm system (Grade D type), small HMO (our estimate from installer guides) | £800 – £2,000 | £850 – £2,100 | house |
| Full rewire, 4–5 bedroom house | £6,000 – £12,000 | £6,350 – £12,700 | house |
Prices in Colchester are shown with our regional adjustment for East of England (above the UK average). Your quote is itemised and fixed in writing once the scope and specification are agreed.
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.
For student houses in Colchester, booking by spring is the safest way to make the summer gap.
When do Colchester landlords need it?
Typical reasons for this work in Colchester:
- Houses let to students on yearly tenancies
- The summer gap between tenancies
Questions about student HMO refurbishment in Colchester
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.
Which postcodes in Colchester do you work in?
All of them, including CO1 and CO2, and the surrounding parts of Essex.
Does a shared house in Colchester 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 Colchester?
Our guide ranges for East of England 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 Colchester
- Sudbury · 13 mi
- Clacton-on-Sea · 13 mi
- Witham · 13 mi
- Maldon · 15 mi
- Braintree · 15 mi
- Ipswich · 16 mi
- All of Essex
Other HMO services in Colchester
- Void and between-tenancy refurbs in Colchester
- Communal kitchen refits in Colchester
- Ensuite installation in Colchester
- HMO fire safety upgrades in Colchester
- Bedroom upgrades and room refits in Colchester
- Full HMO refurbishment in Colchester
- Fire doors in Colchester
- Professional and co-living HMO refurbs in Colchester