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 Surrey, priced against the HMO rules for England and the council’s own standards.
- Nation
- England
- Pricing region
- South East
- Postcode areas
- GU, RH, KT, TW
- Main towns
- Woking, Guildford, Esher, Redhill, Staines
What does student HMO refurbishment in Surrey involve?
- Hard-wearing kitchens and worktops
- Fire safety checks and upgrades
- Summer works programme agreed in spring
- Broadband and electrics upgrades
- Photo handover before move-in
- Study space and sockets in every room
Which rules apply in Surrey?
- Licences last up to 5 years and carry conditions on gas and electrical safety, alarms, room sizes and waste.
- National rules ask for an adequate number of bathrooms, WCs and basins and suitably located kitchens; numeric ratios are set by each council.
- 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.
- Under the Renters’ Rights Act, civil penalties reach £40,000 for offences such as running an unlicensed HMO.
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 Surrey?
| 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 |
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 Surrey
- Woking
- Guildford
- Esher
- Redhill
- Staines
- Banstead
- Leatherhead
- Aldershot
- Ewell
- Farnham
- Epsom
- Camberley
- Egham
- Sunbury-on-Thames
- Ashford (Surrey)
- Walton-on-Thames
- Godalming
- Reigate
- Horley
- Caterham
Questions about student HMO refurbishment in Surrey
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 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.
Do you carry out student HMO refurbishment across Surrey?
Yes, across the whole of Surrey, including Woking, Guildford, Esher.
Who licenses HMOs in Surrey?
HMOs in Surrey are licensed by the local council for the address. Where an area has several councils, each runs its own licensing and planning policies.