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. In Caterham, a town of about 21,000 people in Surrey, the work is planned around the HMO rules for England and the council’s written HMO standards.
- Area
- Surrey, England
- Postcodes
- CR3
- Location
- 16 miles south of London
- Pricing region
- South East
What does student HMO refurbishment in Caterham involve?
- Extra bathroom or ensuites
- Photo handover before move-in
- Summer works programme agreed in spring
- Fire safety checks and upgrades
- Broadband and electrics upgrades
Which rules apply in Caterham?
Student HMO refurbishment in Caterham 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:
- Under the Renters’ Rights Act, civil penalties reach £40,000 for offences such as running an unlicensed HMO.
- Council standards often step up at 5 and 6 sharers, for example a separate WC at 5 and a second bathroom from 6.
- Fire precautions follow a risk assessment; the LACORS Housing – Fire Safety guide (2008) is guidance, not law, but many councils base their standards on it.
- BS 7671, the wiring standard, calls for arc fault detection devices in HMOs on new socket circuits, such as rewires and consumer unit changes.
How much does student HMO refurbishment cost in Caterham?
| 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 |
Prices in Caterham are shown with our regional adjustment for South East (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 Caterham, tell us at the first call so the programme is built around it.
When do Caterham landlords need it?
Landlords in Caterham most often ask us for this when:
- The summer gap between tenancies
- Houses let to students on yearly tenancies
Questions about student HMO refurbishment in Caterham
When should I book a summer student refurbishment?
By spring if you can. The window between tenancies is short and contractors in university towns book up quickly.
Which postcodes in Caterham do you work in?
All of them, including CR3, and the surrounding parts of Surrey.
Does a shared house in Caterham 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 Caterham?
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 Caterham
- Coulsdon · 4 mi
- Purley · 4 mi
- Redhill · 5 mi
- South Croydon · 6 mi
- Banstead · 6 mi
- Reigate · 6 mi
- All of Surrey
Other HMO services in Caterham
- Void and between-tenancy refurbs in Caterham
- Communal kitchen refits in Caterham
- Ensuite installation in Caterham
- HMO fire safety upgrades in Caterham
- Bedroom upgrades and room refits in Caterham
- Full HMO refurbishment in Caterham
- Professional and co-living HMO refurbs in Caterham
- Extensions for extra rooms in Caterham