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 Acton we start with a measured survey, check the council’s written HMO standards for the number of sharers, and then price each item separately.
- Area
- Greater London, England
- Postcodes
- W3
- Location
- 6 miles west of London
- Council
- London Borough of Ealing
- Pricing region
- London
What does student HMO refurbishment in Acton involve?
- Robust flooring and wipe-clean paint
- Hard-wearing kitchens and worktops
- Photo handover before move-in
- Study space and sockets in every room
- Summer works programme agreed in spring
Which rules apply in Acton?
Student HMO refurbishment in Acton 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.
- The Fire Safety Order 2005 applies to the common parts of HMOs, enforced by the fire and rescue authority.
- BS 7671, the wiring standard, calls for arc fault detection devices in HMOs on new socket circuits, such as rewires and consumer unit changes.
London Borough of Ealing: local HMO schemes
| Article 4 (HMO) | In force across the council area Immediate direction for Perivale from 30 Oct 2024 and non-immediate direction for the rest of the borough from 2025. |
|---|---|
| Additional licensing | In force across the council area Borough-wide additional licensing 1 Apr 2022-31 Mar 2027; renewal consulted 15 Jul-24 Sep 2026. |
| Selective licensing | In force in part of the council area Two designations covering most wards: 1 Apr 2022-31 Mar 2027 (e.g. Southall, East/North Acton) and 3 Jan 2023-2 Jan 2028 (e.g. Greenford, Northolt, Perivale, Ealing Common). |
Schemes change. Check the council’s current pages for the exact address in Acton before you buy or start work. Source: London Borough of Ealing HMO licensing page, checked 2026-10-31.
How much does student HMO refurbishment cost in Acton?
| 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 | £5,100 – £11,500 | letting room |
| Communal HMO kitchen with extra cooking and sink capacity (our estimate from domestic ranges) | £8,000 – £18,000 | £10,250 – £23,050 | kitchen |
| Shared bathroom refit | £5,500 – £9,000 | £7,050 – £11,500 | bathroom |
| Interlinked mains alarm system (Grade D type), small HMO (our estimate from installer guides) | £800 – £2,000 | £1,000 – £2,550 | house |
| Full rewire, 4–5 bedroom house | £6,000 – £12,000 | £7,700 – £15,350 | house |
Prices in Acton are shown with our regional adjustment for London (above the UK average). Your quote is itemised and fixed in writing once the scope and specification are agreed.
How long does it take?
Most jobs of this kind take 2–8 weeks over summer. If a council deadline applies in Acton, tell us at the first call so the programme is built around it.
When do Acton landlords need it?
Landlords in Acton most often ask us for this when:
- Houses that need to compete with purpose-built student blocks
- Houses let to students on yearly tenancies
Questions about student HMO refurbishment in Acton
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.
How far do you travel from Acton?
We cover the whole of Greater London and work UK-wide. For Acton the nearest towns on our list are Chiswick (1 miles), Shepherds Bush (2 miles), Willesden (2 miles).
Which council covers HMOs in Acton?
Acton is covered by London Borough of Ealing. 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 Acton?
Our guide ranges for London 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 Acton
- Chiswick · 1 mi
- Shepherds Bush · 2 mi
- Willesden · 2 mi
- Barnes · 3 mi
- Notting Hill · 3 mi
- Wembley · 3 mi
- All of Greater London