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. For a house in Guildford we start with a measured survey, check the council’s written HMO standards for the number of sharers, and then price each item separately. Guildford has a university population, so many shared houses are let to students on yearly tenancies, and summer is the main window for works.
- Area
- Surrey, England
- Postcodes
- GU1, GU2 and GU4
- Location
- 23 miles south-east of Reading
- Pricing region
- South East
What does student HMO refurbishment in Guildford involve?
- Photo handover before move-in
- Hard-wearing kitchens and worktops
- Study space and sockets in every room
- Robust flooring and wipe-clean paint
- Extra bathroom or ensuites
Which rules apply in Guildford?
The rules below are the England-wide position for this kind of work. Councils add their own standards and schemes on top, so we always check the address in Guildford before we price.
- 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.
- 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 Guildford?
| 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 |
Use these as a starting point for budgeting. Access, condition and the council’s requirements in Guildford can move the figure either way, which is why we quote after seeing the house.
How long does it take?
Allow 2–8 weeks over summer on site for a typical job. Drawings, approvals and long-lead items such as kitchens or fire door sets are booked before we start.
For student houses in Guildford, booking by spring is the safest way to make the summer gap.
When do Guildford landlords need it?
Landlords in Guildford most often ask us for this when:
- Houses that need to compete with purpose-built student blocks
- The summer gap between tenancies
Questions about student HMO refurbishment in Guildford
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.
Which postcodes in Guildford do you work in?
All of them, including GU1, GU2 and GU4, and the surrounding parts of Surrey.
Does a shared house in Guildford 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 Guildford?
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 Guildford
- Godalming · 4 mi
- Woking · 6 mi
- Aldershot · 8 mi
- Farnborough · 9 mi
- Farnham · 10 mi
- Camberley · 10 mi
- All of Surrey
Other HMO services in Guildford
- Void and between-tenancy refurbs in Guildford
- Communal kitchen refits in Guildford
- Ensuite installation in Guildford
- HMO fire safety upgrades in Guildford
- Bedroom upgrades and room refits in Guildford
- Full HMO refurbishment in Guildford
- Damp, mould and HHSRS repairs in Guildford
- Rewires and EICR remedials in Guildford