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. Strood is 27 miles east of London. We price student HMO refurbishment there against England’s HMO rules and the council’s written HMO standards, so work is planned to the standard an inspection looks for.
- Area
- Kent, England
- Postcodes
- ME1 and ME2
- Location
- 27 miles east of London
- Council
- Medway Council
- Pricing region
- South East
What does student HMO refurbishment in Strood involve?
- Robust flooring and wipe-clean paint
- Summer works programme agreed in spring
- Broadband and electrics upgrades
- Extra bathroom or ensuites
- Hard-wearing kitchens and worktops
Which rules apply in Strood?
The rules below are the England-wide position for this kind of work. Councils add their own standards and schemes on top, so we always check the address in Strood before we price.
- 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.
Medway Council: local HMO schemes
| Article 4 (HMO) | In force in part of the council area Article 4 Direction for seven wards (Chatham Central & Brompton, Fort Pitt, Gillingham North/South, Luton, Strood North & Frindsbury, Watling), approved 16 Dec 2025, in force Jan 2026. |
|---|---|
| Additional licensing | Approved, starts 4 Jan 2027 Six wards (Chatham Central & Brompton, Fort Pitt, Gillingham North and South, Luton, Watling), 4 Jan 2027 to 3 Jan 2032. |
| Selective licensing | Approved, starts 4 Jan 2027 Seven wards (as additional licensing plus Strood North & Frindsbury), 4 Jan 2027 to 3 Jan 2032. |
Schemes change. Check the council’s current pages for the exact address in Strood before you buy or start work. Source: Medway Council HMO licensing page, checked 2026-10-31.
How much does student HMO refurbishment cost in Strood?
| 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 Strood 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 Strood, tell us at the first call so the programme is built around it.
When do Strood landlords need it?
We usually get the call when:
- The summer gap between tenancies
- Houses let to students on yearly tenancies
Questions about student HMO refurbishment in Strood
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 cover all of Strood?
Yes. We work across Strood and the ME1 and ME2 postcode areas, plus the rest of Kent. Nearby places we also cover include Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham.
Which council covers HMOs in Strood?
Strood is covered by Medway 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 Strood?
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 Strood
- Rochester · 1 mi
- Chatham · 2 mi
- Gillingham · 3 mi
- Gravesend · 6 mi
- Grays · 9 mi
- Maidstone · 9 mi
- All of Kent