The checklist we use ourselves when refurbishing HMOs in Lincoln — covering compliance, void turnaround, and where landlords usually under-spec.
Lincoln has one of the highest concentrations of HMO and student housing in the East Midlands. If you own one, the difference between a well-refurbished HMO and a poorly-specced one is paid back tenfold in tenant retention, fewer call-outs and easier compliance renewals.
Compliance — non-negotiable
- FD30 fire doors with intumescent strips and self-closers on every bedroom and the kitchen
- Mains-wired interlinked smoke alarms throughout, heat detector in the kitchen
- Emergency lighting on escape routes for licensed HMOs
- Current EICR (5-year max) and Gas Safety Record (annual)
- Carbon monoxide alarms in every room with a fuel-burning appliance
Spec the spaces that cost you call-outs
- Bathroom extractor fans — proper PIV or 100mm humidity-tracked, not the cheap ones
- Tiled splashbacks behind every sink and the cooker
- Solid-core internal doors and door frames, not hollow
- Stainless steel kettle and dishwasher tails — copper splits in hard-water Lincoln
Surfaces that survive students
- Tiles or LVT in bathrooms, kitchens and hallways — carpet only in bedrooms
- Eggshell or satin paint, never matt, on walls and woodwork
- Soft-close hinges on every bedroom door — they don't slam
Programme: a realistic Lincoln void window
A 6-bed HMO refresh (clean, repaint, snag, compliance check) is 7–10 working days. A full bathroom and kitchen refit on top adds 2 weeks. Plan early — every Lincoln HMO contractor is busy May to August.
Get a free, no-obligation quote from MHC Construction — call 01522 302 508 or use our quote form. We've worked on properties like yours for over 10 years.
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