Full property refurbishment in London

Four things: the size and condition of the property, how much of the layout and structure changes, the specification of kitchens, bathrooms and finishes, and access. A flat on the fourth floor without a lift costs more to strip out and supply than a house with a driveway.

We do not publish prices or use estimate tools, because they mislead in both directions. After the site visit we send an itemised quotation that separates the building work from the finishes, so you can see exactly where the money goes and adjust the specification before committing.

A full refurbishment of a two-bedroom flat typically takes eight to twelve weeks on site. A whole house with structural changes, a new kitchen and two or three bathrooms usually takes four to six months. Lead times for kitchens, glazing and specialist finishes are the most common cause of delay, so we order them early in the programme.

Internal refurbishment of a house does not need planning permission, but it does need building regulations approval where it involves structure, electrics, plumbing, drainage, windows or insulation. Flats and leasehold properties usually need a licence to alter from the freeholder or managing agent, and listed buildings need listed building consent for most internal work. We deal with all of these as part of the project.

For partial refurbishments, usually yes. We sequence the rooms so a bathroom and a basic kitchen stay in use, and we seal off the working areas from the rest of the home. For a full strip-out, including rewiring and replastering, it is faster, cleaner and cheaper to move out for the duration; the programme is typically several weeks shorter when the site is empty.