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 Somerset, priced against the HMO rules for England and the council’s own standards.
- Nation
- England
- Pricing region
- South West
- Postcode areas
- TA, BA, BS, DT
- Main towns
- Mendip, Bath, Weston-super-Mare, Taunton, Yeovil
What does student HMO refurbishment in Somerset involve?
- Extra bathroom or ensuites
- Fire safety checks and upgrades
- Broadband and electrics upgrades
- Robust flooring and wipe-clean paint
- Study space and sockets in every room
- Hard-wearing kitchens and worktops
Which rules apply in Somerset?
- 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.
- 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 Somerset?
| 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 | £4,150 – £9,350 | letting room |
| Communal HMO kitchen with extra cooking and sink capacity (our estimate from domestic ranges) | £8,000 – £18,000 | £8,300 – £18,700 | kitchen |
| Shared bathroom refit | £5,500 – £9,000 | £5,700 – £9,350 | bathroom |
| Interlinked mains alarm system (Grade D type), small HMO (our estimate from installer guides) | £800 – £2,000 | £830 – £2,100 | house |
| Full rewire, 4–5 bedroom house | £6,000 – £12,000 | £6,250 – £12,500 | 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 Somerset
Questions about student HMO refurbishment in Somerset
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.
What finishes last best in student houses?
Commercial-grade vinyl or laminate, quartz-effect laminate worktops, wipe-clean paint and good extraction to keep condensation down.
Do you carry out student HMO refurbishment across Somerset?
Yes, across the whole of Somerset, including Mendip, Bath, Weston-super-Mare.
Who licenses HMOs in Somerset?
HMOs in Somerset are licensed by the local council for the address. Where an area has several councils, each runs its own licensing and planning policies.
Other HMO services in Somerset
- Void and between-tenancy refurbs in Somerset
- Communal kitchen refits in Somerset
- Ensuite installation in Somerset
- HMO fire safety upgrades in Somerset
- Bedroom upgrades and room refits in Somerset
- Full HMO refurbishment in Somerset
- Damp, mould and HHSRS repairs in Somerset
- Extensions for extra rooms in Somerset