London Refurbishment Guides
Real 2026 prices from our surveyors — refurbishment costs per square metre, flat renovation budgets, leak repair pricing and how to plan your project.
Cost Guides
House Refurbishment Costs in London: 2026 Price Guide
House refurbishment in London costs £800–£3,500 per square metre in 2026. See costs by tier, room-by-room prices and how to budget your project properly.
Flat Renovation Costs in London: 2026 Price Guide
Flat renovation in London costs from £55,000 for a 1-bed to £145,000 for a 4-bed in 2026. Full breakdown by size, per square foot rates and leasehold tips.
Victorian Terrace Renovation Costs in London: 2026 Guide
Victorian terrace renovation in London costs £800–£3,500 per square metre. 2026 prices for rewiring, replastering, sash windows and full whole-house budgets.
Ceiling Water Damage Repair Costs: 2026 UK Price Guide
Ceiling water damage repair costs £150–£2,500+, averaging around £1,550. 2026 prices for fixing leaking pipes, replastering, full ceiling replacement and more.
Bathroom Refurbishment Costs in London: 2026 Price Guide
Bathroom refurbishment in London costs £8,000–£25,000+ in 2026. Full cost breakdown by tier, what drives prices up, timelines and how to avoid future leaks.
Fire Risk Assessment Remedial Works: 2026 Cost Guide
What fire risk assessment remedial works cost in 2026: fire doors, compartmentation, alarms, emergency lighting and signage priced item by item.
Fire Door Installation Costs in London: 2026 Price Guide
Fire door installation in London costs £400–£900 for a fitted FD30 doorset and £700–£1,200 for FD60 in 2026. Full price breakdown, upgrade costs and HMO survey guide.
Cost to Convert a House to an HMO in London: 2026 Guide
Converting a house to an HMO in London costs £8,000–£20,000 for a compliance-led 4-bed and £20,000–£40,000+ for a larger refurb-and-convert. Full cost breakdown for landlords.
HMO Compliance Costs in London: 2026 Price Guide for Landlords
Bringing a London let up to HMO standard costs £3,000–£12,000 in 2026. Itemised costs for fire doors, alarms, emergency lighting and FRA remedial works for landlords.
Tiling Costs in London: 2026 Price Guide (Per Sqm & Day Rate)
Tiling in London costs £40–£100 per square metre supplied and fitted in 2026, or a tiler day rate of £200–£300. Full price guide by tile type, wetroom tanking and splashbacks.
Partition Wall Costs in London: 2026 Stud Wall Price Guide
A stud partition wall in London costs £500–£1,200 built and decorated in 2026, or £40–£90 per square metre. Full price guide for acoustic, fire-rated and HMO partitions.
Kitchen Renovation Costs in London: 2026 Price Guide
A new kitchen in London costs £8,000–£50,000+ fitted in 2026, depending on tier. Full cost breakdown by units, worktops, appliances, fitting labour and timeline.
Painting & Decorating Costs in London: 2026 Price Guide
Painting and decorating in London costs £350–£700 per room or a decorator day rate of £150–£250 in 2026. Full price guide by room, whole-property cost and premium paint.
Flooring Installation Costs in London: 2026 Price Guide
Flooring in London costs £20–£120 per square metre supplied and fitted in 2026, by material. Full price guide for laminate, LVT, engineered wood, carpet and subfloor prep.
Wetroom Installation Cost in London: 2026 Price Guide
A wetroom in London costs £8,000–£20,000+ in 2026. See the price by size, what full tanking and drainage involve, and why waterproofing is where wet rooms succeed or leak.
Soundproofing a Flat in London: 2026 Cost Guide
Soundproofing a flat in London costs £40–£90 per square metre for acoustic partition uplift, with whole-room work running £3,000–£12,000. See costs by treatment and Part E context.
Underfloor Heating Cost in London: 2026 Price Guide
Underfloor heating in London costs £60–£120 per m² for electric and £120–£200 per m² fitted for wet systems in 2026. Compare wet vs electric cost, running costs and when it's worth it.
Roof Repair Costs in London: 2026 Price Guide
Roof repair in London costs from £150 for a slipped tile to £6,000+ for a re-roof in 2026. See prices by job, flat-roof rates and emergency make-safe costs.
Repointing Costs in London: 2026 Brickwork Price Guide
Repointing in London costs £40–£90 per square metre in 2026, or £2,000–£6,000+ for a whole house. See brickwork prices by job, scaffold costs and lime vs cement.
Rendering Costs in London: 2026 Price Guide
Rendering in London costs £45–£110 per square metre in 2026 depending on the system. See the cost to render a house by type, scaffold and pebbledash removal prices.
Handyman Rates in London: 2026 Cost Guide
Handyman rates in London are £40–£60 per hour, £120–£180 a half-day or £200–£300 a day in 2026. See prices for common jobs, call-out charges and landlord work.
Chimney Breast Removal Cost in London: 2026 Price Guide
Chimney breast removal in London costs £1,500–£5,000, or £3,000–£7,000 for a full stack. See costs by scope, what's involved and how to get a fixed quote.
Artex Removal Cost in London: 2026 Price Guide
Artex removal in London costs £8–£15/sqm to skim over, or around £100/sqm to remove and replaster. Asbestos artex needs testing first. See full costs here.
Knock Through Cost in London: RSJ & Steel Beam Price Guide 2026
A knock through in London costs £1,800–£4,500, or £7,000+ for complex spans. See RSJ steel beam costs, what's included and how to get a fixed quote.
Sash Window Repair Cost in London: 2026 Price Guide
Sash window repair in London costs £150 for a simple fix to £900+ for a full overhaul per window. See cord, draught-proofing and refurb costs here.
Damp Proofing Cost in London: Rising Damp Treatment Guide 2026
Damp proofing in London costs from a £200–£500 survey to ~£3,250 for a full rising-damp DPC job. See costs by damp type plus replastering prices here.
Lath and Plaster Ceiling Repair Cost in London: 2026 Guide
Lath and plaster ceiling repair in London costs £80–£120 for a patch up to full replacement. See costs by job plus overboard vs removal options here.
Guttering Repair Cost in London: 2026 Price Guide
Guttering repair in London costs £100–£300 for minor work; full UPVC replacement runs £800–£2,000. See 2026 gutter cleaning and downpipe prices.
Flat Roof Replacement Cost in London: 2026 Price Guide
Flat roof replacement in London costs £80–£150 per square metre in 2026 by membrane. A typical extension or garage flat roof runs £1,500–£4,000.
Loft Boarding Cost in London: 2026 Price Guide
Loft boarding in London costs £25–£40 per square metre in 2026, or £35–£55 raised over insulation. A typical loft costs £500–£1,500 boarded.
HMO & Fire Safety
HMO Fire Door Requirements: FD30 Rules & Costs for 2026
HMO bedroom doors onto escape routes must be FD30 fire doors with smoke seals and self-closers. 2026 guide to requirements, upgrades and fitted costs.
Smoke Alarm Regulations for Rented Property: 2026 Guide
Smoke alarm rules for rented property: one alarm per storey, CO alarms with fixed appliances, and what HMO licensing adds. 2026 guide with fitted costs.
Emergency Lighting Requirements for HMOs: 2026 Guide
Do HMOs need emergency lighting? When BS 5266-1 systems are required, maintained vs non-maintained fittings, testing rules and 2026 installed costs.
HMO Licence Requirements in London: 2026 Landlord Guide
HMO licence requirements in London: mandatory, additional and selective schemes by borough, fees of £500–£1,500, inspection works and the penalties.
Landlord Fire Safety Checklist: Every Duty in One Place
A practical fire safety checklist for landlords: 2022 alarm regulations, fire doors, escape routes, EICR, gas safety and fire risk assessment duties.
HMO Minimum Room Sizes: The Rules and How to Fix a Failing Layout
HMO minimum room sizes: 6.51 sqm for one adult, 10.22 sqm for two, 4.64 sqm for a child under 10. Ceiling height rules, borough variations and fixes.
Article 4 Directions and HMO Planning in London (2026)
Many London boroughs use Article 4 directions to require planning permission for small HMOs. How C3 to C4 permitted development works, which boroughs have removed it, and what large HMOs need.
Selective and Additional Licensing for London Landlords (2026)
London landlords may need a mandatory, additional or selective property licence depending on the borough. The three licence types, fees, the works needed to pass and penalties up to £30,000 explained.
FD30 vs FD60 Fire Doors: Which Rating Do You Need?
FD30 vs FD60 fire doors explained: what the ratings mean, where each is legally required in HMOs and flats, the doorset principle and the cost difference.
How to Pass an HMO Inspection in London: Checklist (2026)
A practical checklist of what a council HMO officer checks: fire doors, interlinked alarms, room sizes, amenity ratios, escape routes and certificates. Common fail reasons and how to fix them.
Landlord Guides
End of Tenancy Refurbishment Checklist for London Landlords
Cut void days with a fast end-of-tenancy refurbishment. The checklist London landlords use to redecorate, refresh and re-let, plus compliance checks.
Damp and Mould: Landlord Responsibilities in London (2026)
London landlords must fix damp and mould at the source under the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018. Your legal duties, Awaab's Law for the private sector and how to fix the cause, not the symptom.
MEES and Minimum EPC Rules for London Landlords (2026)
London rentals must currently hold an EPC of E or above under MEES. The proposed move to EPC C, exemptions, the works that raise your band and the penalties for non-compliance explained.
The Renters' Rights Bill: A London Landlord's Guide (2026)
The Renters' Rights Bill proposes abolishing Section 21, periodic tenancies, a Decent Homes Standard and Awaab's Law for the private rented sector. What London landlords should do now to prepare.
How to Prepare a Property for Letting in London (2026)
A pre-tenancy checklist for London landlords: safety certificates, repairs and redecoration to a lettable standard, deep clean, HMO compliance, inventory and how to maximise rent and cut void days.
How to Maximise Rental Yield With Refurbishment in London
The refurbishment works that add the most rent and cut voids in London: kitchens, bathrooms, extra bedrooms, HMO conversion and EPC upgrades, with ROI.
Refurbishment Process
Do I Need Planning Permission to Refurbish a Flat in London?
Most internal flat refurbishments need no planning permission in London, but leaseholders still need a licence to alter. See what needs consent.
Listed Building Refurbishment in London: A Complete Guide
Renovating a listed building in London needs listed building consent, even for internal work. Learn the Grade system, what to preserve and the rules.
Building Regulations for Renovations in London: What You Need
Which renovation works need building regulations approval? See the works that need building control, building notice vs full plans and certificates.
Refurbishment vs Renovation: What's the Difference?
Refurbishment vs renovation explained: clear definitions, how cost, scope and timeline differ, which adds more value, and how to scope your London project.
How Long Does a Refurbishment Take in London?
A bathroom takes 2–4 weeks, a full flat 6–12 weeks and a whole house 3–6 months. See realistic London refurbishment timelines and what causes delays.
How to Choose a Refurbishment Company in London
How to choose a refurbishment company or builder in London: what to check, the red flags to avoid and the questions to ask before you pay a deposit.
Party Wall Agreements for London Refurbishments: Do You Need One?
Do you need a party wall agreement for your London refurbishment? When the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies, notice periods, surveyor costs and what happens if you skip it.
Do I Need an Architect for a Refurbishment in London?
Architect vs builder for your London refurbishment: when you need an architect, when a contractor and structural engineer suffice, and what each route costs.
Snagging Lists Explained: A Room-by-Room Guide for London Refurbishments
What is a snagging list and how do you use one? A room-by-room snagging checklist for London refurbishments, plus the sign-off, retention and defects-liability process.
Interiors & Materials
LVT vs Laminate vs Engineered Wood: Which Floor to Choose
LVT vs laminate vs engineered wood flooring compared on durability, water resistance, feel and cost. Find the best flooring for a London rental, kitchen or living room.
Wet Room vs Standard Bathroom: Which Should You Choose?
Wet room vs standard bathroom compared: the difference in tanking and drainage, pros and cons, when a wet room suits, cost, and why professional waterproofing matters.
Kitchen vs Bathroom Renovation: Which Adds More Value?
Does a kitchen or bathroom add more value in London? Compare cost versus return, resale and rental impact, and which to prioritise, with a clear table.
Leak & Damp
Water Leak in the Ceiling: Who to Call in London
Water leak in the ceiling? Learn whether to call a plumber, roofer or builder, why it takes four trades, costs (£150–£2,500+) and the one-contractor advantage.
Water Damage Insurance Claims in London: A 2026 Guide
How UK home insurance handles escape-of-water claims: what trace and access covers, reinstatement works, documentation insurers want, excess and what is excluded.
How Long to Dry Out a Property After a Leak
Realistic drying times after a leak: days to weeks by material and severity. Dehumidifiers, air movers, moisture meters, and why you must dry before replastering.
Rising Damp vs Penetrating Damp vs Condensation: How to Tell the Difference
How to tell rising damp, penetrating damp and condensation apart by their signs and causes, and the right fix for each so you avoid the wrong cure.