Complete House Renovation in London

What we do and which projects we take on

London Renovation undertakes full residential renovation contracts across London. Our work covers everything from gut-strip and structural reconfiguration through to finished kitchens, bathrooms, joinery, decoration and external repairs.

We take on projects of genuine scale and complexity. That means whole-house renovations, floor-by-floor refurbishments on townhouses, and deep retrofits of period buildings where the fabric, structure and services all need attention at once. We do not sub-contract the management of your project to others — our own site management runs each contract from mobilisation to handover.

If you are early in the process and want to understand how a renovation is costed and programmed, our renovation process page sets this out in detail.

What a full renovation can include

The scope of a complete house renovation varies by property and by what the client needs. Typical packages include some or all of the following:

• Strip-out and demolition — removal of existing finishes, partitions, fittings and services to the agreed extent
• Structural alterations — steel beam installation, load-bearing wall removal, opening formation, and any below-slab or foundation work
• Electrical installation — full rewire, consumer unit replacement, lighting design, data and AV infrastructure
• Plumbing and heating — new pipework, radiator systems or underfloor heating, boiler replacement, hot water cylinders and pressurised systems
• Plastering — skim, lime, or sand-and-cement to walls and ceilings; new partitions in plasterboard or traditional construction
• Kitchens and bathrooms — supply and installation of fitted kitchens, utility rooms, and bathrooms from a range of suppliers and specifications
• Bespoke joinery — fitted wardrobes, shelving, panelling, staircase work, and any other carpentry made to measure
• Flooring — timber, engineered wood, stone, tile, and carpet across all rooms
• Decoration — preparation and finishing to ceilings, walls, woodwork and metalwork throughout
• External repairs — repointing, rendering, roof patch repairs, drainage, boundary walls and front gardens within scope
• Final snagging and handover — a structured snagging process before handover, with all documentation, guarantees, and Building Regulations certificates provided

London-specific renovation challenges

Renovating a house in London is not the same as renovating one elsewhere. The constraints of the city add time, cost and complexity that any experienced London contractor must plan for.

Restricted access and working hours. Many London streets impose working-hour restrictions, particularly in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster, and Camden. Skips and scaffolding require permits. Large deliveries need careful scheduling around street conditions.

Parking and deliveries. Suspending parking bays costs money and requires council approval. Plant, materials and waste removal all require logistics planning that adds overhead on urban sites that would not exist in suburban or rural settings.

Party wall matters. The majority of London houses share walls with neighbours. Excavations near boundaries, structural alterations to party walls, and certain roof works all trigger the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. Notices must be served and, where neighbours dissent, surveyors appointed. We work within this framework as a matter of course.

Conservation areas and listed buildings. Large parts of central and inner London are covered by conservation area designations. Works that alter the external appearance of a property — or any works whatsoever to a listed building — require consent. We advise on what is likely to require permission before any commitment is made.

Period construction. Victorian, Georgian, and Edwardian houses are built from materials and to methods that require different handling than modern construction. Lime mortar, solid brick walls, suspended timber floors, lead pipework and knob-and-tube wiring all create specific considerations at strip-out and when specifying replacements. See our notes on period property renovation and restoration of period features for more detail.

Neighbour management. On dense terraced streets, neighbours are close and works affect them. We introduce ourselves to adjoining occupiers at the start of every project, maintain clean and orderly sites, and manage noise and waste in accordance with our site rules and any council requirements.

Waste removal. London imposes requirements on waste carriers and disposal. All our waste is removed by licensed carriers to licensed facilities, with transfer notes retained.

Planning restrictions. Permitted development rights in London are frequently restricted by Article 4 Directions. Extensions and alterations that would be permitted development in much of England may require full planning permission in London boroughs. We assess this early.

Our process

A renovation contract begins with a detailed survey of the property, a discussion of your brief, and the preparation of an itemised quotation. We do not begin on site until the scope, programme and contract are agreed in writing.

We use a main contract format appropriate to the scale of the project. Our site team manages all trades on your behalf, and you have a named point of contact throughout.

For a full account of how we work from initial enquiry through to handover, see our renovation process page.

Typical project types

The bulk of our London renovation work falls into a few recognisable categories.

Terraced houses — two- and three-storey Victorian, Edwardian, and inter-war terraces make up a large proportion of London’s housing stock. Most were last updated decades ago and benefit from a comprehensive overhaul of structure, services and finishes. Our Victorian house renovation page covers the specific considerations involved.

Townhouses — multi-storey townhouses across London’s period and modern estates often require floor-by-floor refurbishment, staircase works, and coordination across multiple levels. Read more on our townhouse renovation page.

Georgian and Edwardian homes — properties from these periods frequently have fine original fabric — cornicing, sash windows, panelled doors, timber floors — that merits retention and repair rather than replacement. Our approach to period property renovation prioritises the preservation of original material where it is sound.

Flats and maisonettes — renovation of flats involves additional considerations around leaseholder obligations, building management, and shared services. Our flat renovation page covers these in more detail.

Many whole-house renovations also incorporate home extensions or loft conversions within the same contract, which avoids the disruption and cost of mobilising twice.

Cost and programme

The cost of a house renovation in London is determined by the size of the property, its current condition, the extent of structural and services work, and the specification of finishes. There is a wide range between a light refurbishment and a full gut renovation with high-end finishes.

We do not publish fixed prices, because fixed prices for renovation contracts are not meaningful without knowing the building. What we can tell you is that we provide fully itemised quotations that break the contract into distinct packages, so you understand what you are paying for.

Our renovation costs guide provides indicative budget bands and explains the principal cost drivers in detail.

Case studies

We let our work speak for itself. A selection of completed projects — covering different property types, scopes and scales of work — is available on our projects page.

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To discuss a project, contact us with a brief outline of the property and what you are looking to achieve. We will arrange an initial visit at a time that suits you.

How long does a full house renovation take in London?

Timescales depend on the scope of work and the size of the property. A thorough renovation of a three- to four-bedroom terraced house — covering structural alterations, new M&E services, kitchens, bathrooms and full decoration — will typically run from four to eight months. We provide a detailed programme at the quotation stage so you have a clear picture before work begins.

Can I live in the house while the renovation is under way?

In most full renovations it is not practical or safe to remain in occupation during the core works — particularly during strip-out, structural alterations, and when services are disconnected. We discuss this at the outset and can phase work to minimise disruption where a client’s circumstances genuinely require it, though phasing usually extends the overall programme.

Do you manage structural works as part of the renovation?

Yes. Structural alterations — including steel beam installation, load-bearing wall removal, and underpinning — are a standard part of many London renovation projects and are managed by us directly. We work alongside your structural engineer and ensure Building Regulations compliance throughout.

We already have an architect. Can you work with them?

We regularly work alongside clients’ architects, interior designers, and structural engineers. If drawings and specifications are already in place we can price from them directly. Where no designer is appointed we can advise on suitable professionals from our established contacts.

Will I receive a full written quotation?

Yes. We provide a detailed, itemised quotation covering all trade packages. We do not issue lump-sum estimates. You can read more about how we approach budgeting on our renovation costs page.

Which areas of London do you cover?

We work across all London boroughs — central, north, south, east and west — as well as parts of the immediate commuter zone. If you are unsure whether your property falls within our area, get in touch and we will confirm quickly.