London House Renovations & Refurbishments: Full-Service Property Renovation
At houseUP, we specialise in complete house renovations in London, including full house refurbishments, layout reconfiguration, and high-end finishes. Whether you need a reliable home remodeling contractor or a trusted renovation company in London, we deliver quality and transparency at every stage. A house renovation is a great investment for your London home. Renovating your property creates the feeling of living in a new home without the associated hassle of moving and for a fraction of the cost.
1. FREE SITE VISIT
House renovations can greatly improve residents’ quality of life and the value of the property. An onsite visit from our team is crucial to fully understanding all the aspects of your lifestyle and the physicalities of the property itself.
We believe in meeting in person so that your desires and goals for your house renovation can be communicated effectively. A face-to-face session helps us to understand your priorities, your requirements, and your concerns.
As well as meeting you, it gives us the opportunity to view the property. We will see firsthand the type of property; Victorian mansion block or detached house; whether parking is permitted; other practicalities such as where the gas meter is, or the electrical consumer unit. Each of these details are important to assess before embarking on a house renovation project. Even though technical drawings might already have been provided, a site visit is how we capture both the said and unsaid of the property.
2. Design and Budgeting for House Refurbishment in London
At houseUP we can support you during the design and planning phase. We work with a network of partner architects and designers who specialise in house renovations in London. We can be involved from the outset helping you to design for the budget you have for your house refurbishment.
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Space and light are highly valued aspects of a house renovation. Increasing both makes for a more comfortable living environment and an improved state of wellness.
Beauty and efficiency are also key considerations. Whether you need more storage space, separate bedrooms for growing children or a new ensuite bathroom, our designers will help you find the most aesthetically pleasing and comfortable solutions to achieve your dream house.
Choosing materials that reflect your taste and personality are also important. We are happy to advise on all the options, for example; paint, radiators, tiles, flooring, e.g. parquet, fitted wardrobes, windows, kitchen cabinets, worktops and appliances. Materials selection can play a pivotal role in creating the desired atmosphere in your newly renovated home.
Low-level maintenance and cleaning, energy efficiency, safety and security are all aspects that our designers will address during the design stage of your house refurbishment.
3. FREE ESTIMATION
Having a reliable, transparent and comprehensive quote means that you have more control over the decision-making during your renovation.
Our accurate estimations allow you to plan in advance for all the expenses. We will agree on a payment schedule that is feasible for you, according to the size and duration of your house renovation.
You will be able to follow the progress on site and the budget consumption throughout your house renovation project using our digital platform.
4. BUILD
A successful renovation project will be overseen by an assigned project manager. Our project managers are competent and experienced in house renovations and take responsibility for everything that happens both on and off site. They will:
- Organise
- Coordinate personnel, authorities, neighbours but also materials, deliveries and access.
- Visit the site regularly, give daily instructions to the working teams, and perform frequent quality control checks.
- Anticipate unforeseen problems, prevent issues and find solutions in a timely manner. Even the most well-designed and thoroughly planned renovations are subject to some adjustments during the process, but these can be made quickly and efficiently under the correct supervision.
5. COMPLETION AND HANDOVER
Before we leave you to your newly refurbished home, we will walk you through the property inspecting the work and compiling a snagging list. We want to be sure that your home is finished to our own and your high standards.
The snagging list will include all the remaining fine details to be addressed. A specialist team will take over to follow up on each items on the snagging list and make sure that everything is finished to your expectations.
On completing the house refurbishment, you will receive all the relevant certificates and warranties. These are: electricale and gas certificates, windows and doors FENSA certificates, roof guarantee certificates, waterproofing certificates. Insurance backed guarantees for some of the works may also be required and provided to you at the project handover.
Types of house renovations
- 01KITCHEN RENOVATION
As well as installing an entirely new kitchen, a kitchen renovation can include smaller, simpler alterations, for example removing an internal wall to make a larger kitchen space. Or installing new appliances or changing their configuration, which would require wiring and plumbing work. New lighting may also be a requirement. Finally, if you are extending your house to make a larger kitchen, kitchen renovation might form part of your house extension project.
- 02BATHROOM RENOVATION
Bathroom renovations can mean many different options, for example; changing the layout and installing new sanitaryware; adding an en suite to a master bedroom; enlarging a ground floor toilet. In the majority of bathroom renovations, plumbing, tiling and lighting alterations will be necessary and will involve specialist tradespeople.
- 03FULL HOUSE RENOVATION
A full house renovation can include kitchen and bathrooms refurbishment, new flooring, heating installation, wiring and plumbing installation or alterations, and a new boiler installation. It might also include new windows and doors, and plastering and painting of the internal and external walls. New ceilings might be required as well.
Our London house renovation services often include everything from kitchens and bathrooms to rewiring, plastering, and complete design rebuilds.
- 04RENOVATIONS AS PART OF BIGGER ALTERATIONS
A house renovations can be planned as part of an extension project. If you want to extend your property with a basement or loft conversion, a rear or side extension, or all of them, you will most likely need to include some form of renovation. When major alterations are performed, the areas of your house that have not been recently renovated can appear unfavourable in contrast to the newly built parts. What’s more, while an extension or conversion is ongoing, it can be ideal in terms of time, cost and convenience to take on a renovation project. View our service pages on basement conversions, loft conversions and house extensions for more information.
DESIGN SERVICES
CONSTRUCTION SERVICES
FINISHING AND MATERIALS
Digital Communication & Project Updates
Average Cost of House Renovation and Refurbishment in London
The cost for a house renovation is variable and, depends on what the project potentially includes. Needless to say, fully refurbishing a kitchen will cost more than just repainting one.
To offer a ballpark figure, the average cost of a house renovation starts from £2,500 per sqm including the kitchen, finishes like flooring and tiles, installing new sanitary ware, etc. Bear in mind that depending on the quality of the finishes and the size of the alterations, the cost per sqm can vary substantially.
Recent House Renovation Projects in London
We’ve completed high-end house refurbishment and flat renovation projects across some of London’s most prestigious areas. Explore the quality and detail of our work in these standout locations:
Luxury Renovation with Bespoke Furniture in Belgravia, London
Full property transformation with custom-made finishes in one of London’s most exclusive districts.
Coleherne Court – Luxury Flat Renovation in Kensington
High-end flat refurbishment with structural changes, premium materials, and bespoke interior design.
Renovation Works in Highpoint I, Grade I Listed Building in Highgate
Heritage renovation in a landmark Grade I listed property - a showcase of sensitive restoration and compliance excellence.
Victorian House Renovation in Chelsea, London
This beautiful project in Chelsea was created for a young family. We converted two flats to make their new home, added a new basement, a loft conversion and a rear extension. We loved building it in collaboration with Cato Creative Architectural Designers
Our experience in areas like Belgravia, Highgate, and Kensington demonstrates our capability to deliver exceptional London house renovations - whether in luxury flats, listed buildings, or full-home refurbishments.
F.A.Q
Collected questions that we often hear from you
How Much Will My House Refurbishment in London Cost?
Every good building company will tell you that it is not possible to estimate the cost of refurbishment for a flat or a house before all the details have been defined. But we understand that it is important to have a reference figure before embarking in the process for budgeting purposes.
We suggest a conservative estimate of £2,250 per square metre as the absolute minimum, and an average of between £2,500 and £4,000 per square metre.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that there are details that can impact the cost significantly, the most costly being basement excavations or extensions of existing lower ground spaces; inclusion of very large or high spec glazing; very high energy performance materials.
Additionally, some finishes can increase costs significantly, like paint, tiles or flooring, especially if the surfaces are very large,.
In general, kitchens can be installed from as low as a few thousand pounds to hundreds of thousands, too.
How long will my refurbishment take?
As per the duration of a project, it cannot be estimated without the full details. If you want to plan ahead, for alternative accommodation for example, we recommend at least:
For smaller flat refurbishment, approximately 4 to 6 months. For house refurbishment, approximately 6 – 8 months These estimations relate to straightforward refurbishments like loft conversions or rear and side extensions. More complex work like basement excavations can only be estimated with more details, especially if access to the property is a consideration. Composition of the soil etc are also important factors.
Can I live at the property during the refurbishment?
We always recommend that you arrange for alternative accommodation during the project.
Some of our clients choose to live at the property during the work, and, of course, we make that possible. However, please be advised that this arrangement comes with a significant increases in stress, cost and duration of the project.
I want to do everything with one company, can you do design and refurbishment for me?
Yes we can. We collaborate with top architects specialising in London house refurbishment and renovation planning which allows us to create designs that suit you and your needs. We will match you with architects who have specific experience in your area, share your vision and style for your refurbishment project.
Doing the design and build with us gives you a view and control of the projected costs of your refurbishment from the very first day. You will be able to make well-informed choices for your design while understanding the cost implications and opting for the best solution for your investment.
Check out our Design & Build page for more information.
I have all the drawings ready with my architect, can you do the building works for me?
We certainly can! We work with the best architects in London through a tender process, for clients that choose to have the designs for their refurbishment made by an independent architect.
We can provide quotes in our own very detailed format or in your architect’s preferred format.
Do I need planning permission for my refurbishment?
You won’t need planning permission for most refurbishment projects. If you are not changing the external appearance of your flat or your house, you won’t need planning permission. In many cases, you can make a loft conversion or a rear/side extension within permitted development rights. You can find all the details on which type of extensions are allowed under permitted development here.
However, if you are planning to refurbish a listed building, you may need permission.
What works make the biggest difference in the final cost of my refurbishment project?
Typically excavation to extend or create a basement under an existing property is one of the most expensive types of work in construction. The cost of finishes is another big factor in the final cost of a flat or house refurbishment.
I am buying a property, can you help me estimate how much the refurbishment would cost?
When you buy a new property, it is very likely that you’ll plan for a refurbishment. You can find some very good deals on the market, where you can buy a property for a good price when it needs some work done.
By offering an estimation on work to be done, we can help you make the right decision and offer the right price for the potential property.
What makes a good house refurbishment company in London?
A good renovation company combines transparency, in-house and external expertise, and project management - especially in London's complex planning environment.
What’s the difference between house renovation and refurbishment?
A house refurbishment focuses on updating and improving the existing layout and finishes. A full house renovation may include structural work, layout redesign, new systems, and compliance upgrades.
If you are considering a house renovation, we can answer all your questions regarding feasibility, planning permission, technical aspects and estimate costs. Or if you are looking for inspiration at any stage, we’d love to hear from you.