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 Farnham, a town of about 37,000 people in Surrey, the work is planned around the HMO rules for England and the council’s written HMO standards.
- Area
- Surrey, England
- Postcodes
- GU9
- Location
- 18 miles south-east of Reading
- Pricing region
- South East
What does student HMO refurbishment in Farnham involve?
- Fire safety checks and upgrades
- Robust flooring and wipe-clean paint
- Broadband and electrics upgrades
- Study space and sockets in every room
- Hard-wearing kitchens and worktops
Which rules apply in Farnham?
Student HMO refurbishment in Farnham 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.
- 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.
- 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 Farnham?
| 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 |
These are typical ranges including VAT, adjusted for South East, where costs run above the UK average. The fixed price for a house in Farnham 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 Farnham, tell us at the first call so the programme is built around it.
When do Farnham landlords need it?
We usually get the call when:
- Houses let to students on yearly tenancies
- Houses that need to compete with purpose-built student blocks
Questions about student HMO refurbishment in Farnham
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 Farnham?
We cover the whole of Surrey and work UK-wide. For Farnham the nearest towns on our list are Aldershot (3 miles), Fleet (5 miles), Farnborough (6 miles).
Where do I check the HMO rules for an address in Farnham?
With the local council for the address. 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 Farnham?
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 Farnham
- Aldershot · 3 mi
- Fleet · 5 mi
- Farnborough · 6 mi
- Bordon · 7 mi
- Godalming · 8 mi
- Camberley · 9 mi
- All of Surrey
Other HMO services in Farnham
- Void and between-tenancy refurbs in Farnham
- Communal kitchen refits in Farnham
- Ensuite installation in Farnham
- HMO fire safety upgrades in Farnham
- Bedroom upgrades and room refits in Farnham
- Full HMO refurbishment in Farnham
- Escape routes, emergency lighting and fire stopping in Farnham
- Licence condition and schedule-of-works in Farnham