A void refurbishment is the work done while a room or house is empty between tenancies: repairs, redecoration, flooring, deep cleaning and safety checks, done quickly so the room can be let again. In Cambridge, a place of roughly 150,000 people, the work is planned around the HMO rules for England and the council’s written HMO standards. Cambridge has a university population, so many shared houses are let to students on yearly tenancies, and summer is the main window for works.
- Area
- Cambridgeshire, England
- Postcodes
- CB21, CB22, CB23 and CB24
- Location
- 30 miles south-east of Peterborough
- Council
- Cambridge City Council
- Pricing region
- East of England
What do void and between-tenancy refurbs in Cambridge involve?
- Final clean and photo report
- Carpet, vinyl or laminate replacement
- Repairs to doors, closers, locks and fittings
- Small electrical and plumbing repairs
- Pre-void walk-round and fixed-price list
Which rules apply in Cambridge?
Void and between-tenancy refurbs in Cambridge 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:
- The Fire Safety Order 2005 applies to the common parts of HMOs, enforced by the fire and rescue authority.
- Councils assess hazards, including damp, mould and fire, under the HHSRS; revised regulations and guidance applied from 23 June 2026.
- National rules ask for an adequate number of bathrooms, WCs and basins and suitably located kitchens; numeric ratios are set by each council.
- Smoke alarms on every storey with living accommodation and CO alarms by fixed combustion appliances (other than gas cookers) are required by law.
Cambridge City Council: local HMO schemes
| Article 4 (HMO) | Proposed No small-HMO Article 4 direction in force; after a 2026 petition the council said (July 2026) it is building the case for one. No direction made yet. |
|---|---|
| Additional licensing | No scheme found |
| Selective licensing | No scheme found |
Schemes change. Check the council’s current pages for the exact address in Cambridge before you buy or start work. Source: Cambridge City Council HMO licensing page, checked 2026-10-31.
How much do void and between-tenancy refurbs cost in Cambridge?
| Item | UK typical | Local guide | Per |
|---|---|---|---|
| Between-tenancy turnaround per room: repairs, redecoration, flooring (our estimate) | £600 – £1,800 | £640 – £1,900 | room |
| Mould treatment and making good | £250 – £500 | £260 – £530 | room |
| FD30S fire door leaf into an existing frame, with seals, closer and hinges, fitted | £300 – £600 | £320 – £640 | door |
Use these as a starting point for budgeting. Access, condition and the council’s requirements in Cambridge can move the figure either way, which is why we quote after seeing the house.
How long does it take?
Allow 3–10 working days 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 Cambridge, booking by spring is the safest way to make the summer gap.
When do Cambridge landlords need it?
Typical reasons for this work in Cambridge:
- Before re-letting a house you have just bought
- End of the student year in summer
Questions about void and between-tenancy refurbs in Cambridge
How quickly can you turn a room around?
A single room redecoration with flooring is often two to four working days. A whole house at the end of a tenancy is usually one to two weeks, depending on what the walk-round finds.
Do you cover all of Cambridge?
Yes. We work across Cambridge and the CB21, CB22, CB23 and CB24 postcode areas, plus the rest of Cambridgeshire. Nearby places we also cover include Newmarket, Ely, Huntingdon.
Which council covers HMOs in Cambridge?
Cambridge is covered by Cambridge City Council. We read the council’s written HMO standards before pricing, and you should check the licence position for the exact address.
How much do void and between-tenancy refurbs cost in Cambridge?
Our guide ranges for East of England 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.
Void and between-tenancy refurbs near Cambridge
- Newmarket · 13 mi
- Ely · 15 mi
- Huntingdon · 16 mi
- Haverhill · 16 mi
- Saint Neots · 16 mi
- Letchworth Garden City · 21 mi
- All of Cambridgeshire
Other HMO services in Cambridge
- Bedroom upgrades and room refits in Cambridge
- Full HMO refurbishment in Cambridge
- Student HMO refurbishment in Cambridge
- Fire doors in Cambridge
- Damp, mould and HHSRS repairs in Cambridge
- Shared bathroom and shower room refits in Cambridge
- Small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in Cambridge
- Loft conversions for extra rooms in Cambridge