House renovations in London

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. 

Our partner architects focus on conservation and sustainability with a modern approach. We highlight distinctive features and add architectural value to the building with modern details derived from the original and interpreted for the future generations.

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FREE SITE VISIT

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.

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DESIGN AND BUDGETING

DESIGN AND BUDGETING 

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.

Space and light: what are the highly valued aspects of a house renovation. Increasing both makes for a more comfortable living environment and an improved state of wellness. your life that you want to improve with the renovation

Beauty and efficiency: are also key considerations. whether Whether you need more storage space, two separate bedrooms for your growing children who are growing up fast, or a new ensuite bathroom for yourself, our designers will help you findwith the best most aesthetically pleasing and comfortable solutions to achieve your dream house.

Choice of 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, flooringfloors, e.g. parquet, fitted wardrobes, windows, kitchen cabinets, worktops and appliances. Every choice of material Materials selection can play a pivotal role in creating the desired atmosphere in youratmosphere change the feel of your newly renovated homehouse after a renovation. Easy Low-level maintenance and cleaning, energy efficiency, safety and security are all aspects that our designers will address for your during the design stage of your house refurbishment.

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FREE ESTIMATION

FREE ESTIMATION 

When you are ready with the specifications for your home renovation, estimation specialists will produce a quotation with a detailed breakdown of all the costs and a schedule of work

A house renovation requires an investment in time, life disruption and money. Having a reliable and transparent quote means that you can have more control. Understanding all the costing means you are able to make all the right decisions.

Budget planning: our accurate estimations allow you to plan in advance for all the expenses. We agree on a payment schedule that is feasible for you, according to the size and duration of your house renovation

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BUILD

BUILD 

We assign a dedicated project manager for your house renovation, to organise the teams on site, order materials and assist you in every phase of the project.

When your house renovation project is ongoing, there are different aspects our project manager takes into account.

Completion in time and on budget: organising all the activities is the main factor for a successful renovation project. Our project managers are competent and experienced in house renovations and ensure they remain fully in control of everything that happens both on and off site. You will have one dedicated project manager for everything regarding personnel, authorities, neighbours but also materials, deliveries and access

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COMPLETION AND HANDOVER

COMPLETION AND HANDOVER 

At the end of a house renovation project, you want to see all the details finished to perfection. Our project managers are there to help after the refurbishment is completed, to make sure even the smallest elements are taken care of.

Snagging: at the end of your renovation, our project manager will inspect your house with you, to create a snagging list. The list will include all the last details that need to be addressed. A specialised team will take over to follow up on all the items in the snagging list and make sure that all the finishes are finalised to your expectations

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Types of house renovations

  • 01KITCHEN RENOVATION 

    A kitchen renovation can include many alterations, besides installing a new kitchen. You might want to remove an internal wall to make a larger kitchen, for example. Installing new appliances or changing their arrangement will require wiring and plumbing work. New lighting may also be part of the requirements.. If you are extending your house to make a larger kitchen, kitchen renovation might be part of your house extension.

  • 02BATHROOM RENOVATION 

    For a bathroom renovation you may want to change the arrangements of all the fittings and install new sanitaryware. This will mean new plumbing alterations will be required. Tiling and lighting are almost always renovated when refurbishing a bathroom, with specialist workers involved. Often new bathrooms are created during house renovations, adding an ensuite bathroom to the master bedroom or enlarging a ground floor toilet.

  • 03FULL HOUSE RENOVATION 

    A full house renovation can include kitchen and bathrooms refurbishment, new flooring, heating, wiring and plumbing and a new boiler. It often includes new windows and doors and plastering and painting of the internal and external walls. New ceilings might be included as well.

  • 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 want to include a house renovation.. When you perform major alterations, the areas of your house that are not renovated can look unfavourable in contrast with the newly built parts. Plus, a renovation is convenient in terms of time and cost, if a construction company is already working on an extension or a conversion at your property. Check our service pages on basement conversion, loft conversion and house extension for more information.

Planning requirements

Planning requirements 

In general, planning is not necessary for house renovations that don’t alter the external appearance and the overall shape of the house.

Planning might be required for anything that impacts the external look. Changing the windows and front doors, altering the facade or the cladding and changing the roof covering are all changes that require checking with the council or other relevant parties.

F.A.Q

Questions and answers

Collected questions that we often hear from you

  • How much will my refurbishment 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 £1,750 per square metre as the absolute minimum, and an average of between £2,000 and £3,500 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 partner with the best London architects 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.

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Contact our house renovation specialists

Are you are at the planning and budgeting stage? Are you ready to start the work on site? Reach out to speak with our specialist London renovation team

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