Student HMO refurbishment across West Lothian

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. Across West Lothian, the work is planned around Scotland’s HMO rules and the standards the local council publishes.

Nation: Scotland
Pricing region: Scotland
Postcode areas: EH
Main towns: Livingston, Bathgate, Broxburn, Linlithgow, Armadale

What does student HMO refurbishment in West Lothian involve?

Robust flooring and wipe-clean paint
Broadband and electrics upgrades
Photo handover before move-in
Fire safety checks and upgrades
Hard-wearing kitchens and worktops
Study space and sockets in every room

Which rules apply in West Lothian?

Landlords must also be on the Scottish landlord register, renewed every 3 years.
Kitchen, WC and bathroom ratios come from council standards; one WC and one bath or shower per 5 people is a common figure.
Councils set HMO fire standards through licence conditions, often including emergency lighting in larger HMOs.
An EICR before the first let and at least every 5 years, with C1 and C2 items fixed, PAT testing of supplied appliances and RCD protection.

Scottish councils set their own HMO licence standards and planning policies. Every HMO needs a licence, so check the council’s standards before you design the layout.

How much does student HMO refurbishment cost in West Lothian?

Regional adjustment for Scotland. Planning budgets: see our prices page.
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	£3,800 – £8,550	letting room
Communal HMO kitchen with extra cooking and sink capacity (our estimate from domestic ranges)	£8,000 – £18,000	£7,600 – £17,100	kitchen
Shared bathroom refit	£5,500 – £9,000	£5,200 – £8,550	bathroom
Interlinked mains alarm system (Grade D type), small HMO (our estimate from installer guides)	£800 – £2,000	£760 – £1,900	house
Full rewire, 4–5 bedroom house	£6,000 – £12,000	£5,700 – £11,400	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 West Lothian

Questions about student HMO refurbishment in West Lothian

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 West Lothian?

Yes, across the whole of West Lothian, including Livingston, Bathgate, Broxburn.

Who licenses HMOs in West Lothian?

West Lothian council licenses HMOs in its area. Every HMO in Scotland needs a licence.