Flat 107
Balancing Heritage and Modern HMO Living
The background
A Maisonette Conversion
with Conservation Challenges
HMO Architects were commissioned to convert a maisonette above a print shop on 107 St Albans Road into a high-quality, multi-bedroom HMO. Situated in a conservation area, this project presented unique challenges, requiring careful negotiation between modern requirements and the preservation of historical features.
Project Details
Location: London
Value: £85,000 → £260,000
Rental: £350 pcm → £2,500 pcm
Timeline: 5-6 months
The Numbers
Home Buyer Report: £400
Refurbishment Costs: £85,000
Architect: £10,000
Furniture: £5,000
Annual Rental Income: £30,000 pa
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The brief
Adapting Design to Conservation Constraints
Initially planned as a 6-bed HMO, the conservation restrictions prevented us from extending the property. As the only property in the area with original features, the planning authority rejected all extension requests, restricting the number of bedrooms we could fit. In response, we scaled back to a 4-bed HMO, retaining the building’s original features as requested while ensuring all rooms featured en-suite wet rooms—maximising space without skimping on comfort.
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The challenges
Overcoming Complex Design and Client Expectations
Our design had to work within the confined existing layout with no possibility of extending. Wet rooms were essential to ensure we met the brief requirement of assigning en-suites to each room despite the limited space. This detail required a lot of creativity and expert planning to eliminate future issues. Despite a demanding schedule with regular progress meetings that kept the project on track, we delivered a fully compliant, functional HMO, leaving the client satisfied with the outcome and the property’s new occupants.
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Project Timeline
Apr 2018
Found Property
Sept 2018
Exchanged
Apr 2019
Refurb Starts
Sept 2019
Refurb Complete
Oct 2019
Tenants Move in
Project Scope
→ Design Appraisal
→ Existing Drawings
→ Concept Drawings
→ Full Planning Permission Application
→ Building Regulation Drawings & Application
→ Construction Project Management
→ Interior Design
→ Furniture Selection
→ HMO Licencing
→ 3D Virtual Tour
Related Project
Devonshire Road
Location: East Sussex
Value: £500,000 → £900,000
Rental: £450 pcm → £8,100 pcm
Timeline: 12 months