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. Livingston is 13 miles west of Edinburgh. We price student HMO refurbishment there against Scotland’s HMO rules and the council’s written HMO standards, so work is planned to the standard an inspection looks for.
- Area
- West Lothian, Scotland
- Postcodes
- EH54
- Location
- 13 miles west of Edinburgh
- Pricing region
- Scotland
What does student HMO refurbishment in Livingston involve?
- Extra bathroom or ensuites
- Broadband and electrics upgrades
- Hard-wearing kitchens and worktops
- Summer works programme agreed in spring
- Robust flooring and wipe-clean paint
Which rules apply in Livingston?
Here is what usually applies to a Livingston job of this kind. It is general information rather than legal advice, and the council’s written HMO standards have the final detail.
- Every HMO needs a council licence: 3 or more people who are not all from one or two families, sharing basic amenities. Licences last up to 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.
- The tolerable standard requires interlinked smoke alarms in the main living room and circulation spaces and a heat alarm in the kitchen; licensed HMOs must meet the council’s higher standard.
- 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.
How much does student HMO refurbishment cost in Livingston?
| 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 |
Prices in Livingston are shown with our regional adjustment for Scotland (below 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 Livingston, tell us at the first call so the programme is built around it.
When do Livingston landlords need it?
Landlords in Livingston most often ask us for this when:
- Houses let to students on yearly tenancies
- Houses that need to compete with purpose-built student blocks
Questions about student HMO refurbishment in Livingston
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 Livingston?
We cover the whole of West Lothian and work UK-wide. For Livingston the nearest towns on our list are Broxburn (3 miles), Bathgate (5 miles), Linlithgow (6 miles).
Does a shared house in Livingston need an HMO licence?
Yes, if 3 or more people who are not from one or two families share amenities as their main home: every HMO in Scotland needs a licence from the council, lasting up to 3 years.
How much does student HMO refurbishment cost in Livingston?
Our guide ranges for Scotland 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 Livingston
- Broxburn · 3 mi
- Bathgate · 5 mi
- Linlithgow · 6 mi
- Armadale · 7 mi
- Bo’ness · 9 mi
- Rosyth · 10 mi
- All of West Lothian
Other HMO services in Livingston
- Void and between-tenancy refurbs in Livingston
- Communal kitchen refits in Livingston
- Ensuite installation in Livingston
- HMO fire safety upgrades in Livingston
- Bedroom upgrades and room refits in Livingston
- Full HMO refurbishment in Livingston
- Fire alarm and detection systems in Livingston
- Fire doors in Livingston