Britten

The Numbers
Home Buyer Report: £400
Refurbishment Costs: £85,000
Architect: £10,000
Furniture: £5,000
Annual Rental Income: £30,000 pa

The brief

Creating a budget-friendly, compliant layout with minimal changes

The challenge was to create a smart layout that met HMO standards without major structural changes, keeping costs in check while ensuring each of the 15 rooms had an en-suite. We also wanted to maintain a good amount of communal space, essential for a property of this size. Communication was key to keeping everyone on the same page with a client who needed extra guidance on the standards and a lot of back-and-forth on budget-friendly options.

The challenges

Balancing client expectations with council concerns

One of the first hurdles was helping our client understand the HMO process and layout standards. We spent plenty of time on calls, discussing the plans, explaining why certain layouts worked better, and finding ways to keep the project budget-friendly. Given the council’s hesitation about converting a care home, we worked hard to create a design that addressed their concerns while keeping the property’s functionality at the forefront.

After numerous revisions, we created a layout that kept great room design and shared space, meeting HMO standards and our client’s budget goals. It was all about being flexible and clear with the client, ensuring they felt informed and confident in the plans we developed. In the end, we created a 15-bed HMO that met the standards without unnecessary costs, ready for its new role as comfortable, shared accommodation.