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. Lowestoft is 22 miles south-east of Norwich. 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
- Suffolk, England
- Postcodes
- NR32 and NR33
- Location
- 22 miles south-east of Norwich
- Pricing region
- East of England
What does student HMO refurbishment in Lowestoft involve?
- Robust flooring and wipe-clean paint
- Hard-wearing kitchens and worktops
- Broadband and electrics upgrades
- Study space and sockets in every room
- Summer works programme agreed in spring
Which rules apply in Lowestoft?
Here is what usually applies to a Lowestoft 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.
- The Fire Safety Order 2005 applies to the common parts of HMOs, enforced by the fire and rescue authority.
- 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 Lowestoft?
| 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 |
These are typical ranges including VAT, adjusted for East of England, where costs run above the UK average. The fixed price for a house in Lowestoft follows a site visit.
How long does it take?
Most jobs of this kind take 2–8 weeks over summer. If a council deadline applies in Lowestoft, tell us at the first call so the programme is built around it.
When do Lowestoft landlords need it?
Landlords in Lowestoft 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 Lowestoft
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 Lowestoft?
We cover the whole of Suffolk and work UK-wide. For Lowestoft the nearest towns on our list are Great Yarmouth (9 miles), Norwich (22 miles), Bowthorpe (25 miles).
Does a shared house in Lowestoft 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 Lowestoft?
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 Lowestoft
- Great Yarmouth · 9 mi
- Norwich · 22 mi
- Bowthorpe · 25 mi
- Stowmarket · 37 mi
- Ipswich · 38 mi
- Felixstowe · 39 mi
- All of Suffolk
Other HMO services in Lowestoft
- Void and between-tenancy refurbs in Lowestoft
- Communal kitchen refits in Lowestoft
- Ensuite installation in Lowestoft
- HMO fire safety upgrades in Lowestoft
- Bedroom upgrades and room refits in Lowestoft
- Full HMO refurbishment in Lowestoft
- Damp, mould and HHSRS repairs in Lowestoft
- Loft conversions for extra rooms in Lowestoft