Hampstead Studio · Active Across Central London

Flat & Apartment Refurbishment in Central London

Luxury flat renovations for mansion blocks, lateral apartments, leasehold flats and prime Central London homes. We are a Hampstead-based design-and-build studio working across Central London, where every flat refurbishment in Central London is shaped by the lease, the freeholder and the building — not just the four walls. Our architects, engineers, surveyors and builders deliver each apartment refurbishment in Central London under one contract, with a single point of responsibility from first survey to handover.

Book a Refurbishment Consultation Send Project Details

Speak to the studio directly: 020 8054 8756

One Studio. One Contract. One Team.

Architects, Engineers, Surveyors & Builders under one roof

Licence to Alter & freeholder liaisonManaged

Planning, listed & heritage supportIn-house

Part E acoustic complianceIncluded

Managing-agent & concierge protocolsHandled

Fully insured£10M

Central London consultations2 Eaton Gate, SW1

The Company to Appoint

A Central London flat refurbishment company for leasehold apartments, mansion blocks and luxury flats

Hampstead Renovations is a Central London flat refurbishment company and apartment renovation contractor, delivering full flat refurbishments, apartment renovations, luxury apartment refurbishment, leasehold flat refurbishment and mansion block refurbishment across Mayfair, Knightsbridge, Belgravia, Westminster, Victoria, Soho, Covent Garden, Marylebone, Fitzrovia and Bloomsbury.

As a design-and-build refurbishment company, we hold the whole project: architecture, structural engineering, surveying, Licence to Alter and construction under one contract with a single point of responsibility. That is what makes us a renovation company prime Central London owners — and their managing agents — trust to work inside occupied, leasehold and listed buildings.

Flat refurbishment company Apartment renovation contractor Design-and-build studio Mansion-block specialists Licence to Alter experts

A Central London Flat Hub

Flat and apartment refurbishment in Central London is a different discipline

Luxury apartment refurbishment in Central London — a finished mansion-block living room with bespoke joinery and period detailing — Finished prime-London apartment interior delivered by the Hampstead Renovations design-and-build team.

A Central London flat is not a house, and it is not a blank canvas. You are refurbishing one home inside a multi-occupied building — governed by a lease, owned by a freeholder, run by a managing agent, and overlooked by neighbours who hear every drill and watch every delivery. The quality of the finished apartment matters, but so does the way the work is permitted, sequenced and run. That is the difference between a project that completes on programme and one that stalls.

Most flats here are leasehold, which means structural changes, new hard flooring, moved bathrooms and altered services usually need the freeholder's formal consent through a Licence to Alter. Many sit within conservation areas, where external alterations and even some visible internal changes are controlled. A meaningful number are listed, in which case interior fabric is protected and listed building consent can apply to work entirely inside your flat. And the householder permitted-development rights that simplify house projects do not generally apply to flats at all.

The technical envelope is tighter too. Acoustic separation has to satisfy Building Regulations Part E — and frequently a stricter freeholder standard on top — so floors, ceilings and party walls are engineered, not guessed. Fire compartmentation between dwellings under Part B cannot be compromised. Communal risers, ventilation routes and floor build-ups all constrain what is possible. None of this is academic: it decides what your apartment can become.

Finally, the building itself sets the rhythm of the works. Lift protection, booked delivery windows, restricted noisy hours, concierge sign-in, dust control and daily communal cleaning are the price of working in a managed block. Party wall matters arise routinely in mansion blocks, terraced conversions and mixed-use buildings. We plan for all of it before strip-out, which is why our Central London flat projects run quietly and keep the freeholder, the porter and the neighbours onside.

The lease leads

Freeholder controls and a Licence to Alter usually sit ahead of any structural change, new flooring or services move. We read the lease at survey and sequence approvals with the design so nothing stalls on site.

Heritage is live

Conservation-area status is the Central London norm and many blocks are listed. That shapes windows, external works and protected interior fabric — with listed building consent and heritage statements where required.

Acoustics & fire are engineered

Part E sound separation and Part B compartmentation between dwellings are designed in, not improvised — the single most common reason flat refurbishments turn into disputes with neighbours and freeholders.

The block sets the pace

Lift protection, delivery windows, working-hours limits, concierge access and party wall awards govern the programme in an occupied building. We agree them up front and manage them throughout.

Property Types We Refurbish

The Central London flats we know best

From red-brick Edwardian mansion blocks to combined lateral apartments and pied-à-terre flats, each typology carries its own approvals, constraints and opportunities. These are the property types behind most of our prime Central London work.

Portered · Leasehold · Period

Mansion block apartments

Red-brick Edwardian and inter-war blocks across Knightsbridge, Mayfair, Marylebone and Westminster — solid masonry, communal risers and a strict freeholder. Nearly always a Licence to Alter, structured acoustic spec and timed deliveries through the service lift.

Usual approvalsLTA + Part E

Mansion block work

Stucco · Garden Square · Converted

Period conversion flats

Georgian and Victorian houses in Pimlico, Bayswater and Fitzrovia divided into flats decades ago. The recurring challenge is sub-standard original acoustic detailing requiring a full Part E upgrade, while cornicing, sashes and fireplaces are retained.

Usual approvalsLTA + conservation

Period flats

Combined · Single Floor · Prime

Lateral apartments

Two or three flats laterally combined into one residence, common in Knightsbridge, Belgravia and Mayfair. Requires structural opening between former demising lines, full acoustic re-engineering and extensive M&E redistribution — with the freeholder's surveyor closely involved.

Usual approvalsLTA + structural

Lateral apartments

Lease-Governed · Managed Building

Leasehold flats

The default tenure in Central London. The lease defines what you can alter, what consent is needed and what reinstatement risk exists. We audit it first, then run the freeholder and managing-agent approvals in parallel with design.

Usual approvalsLicence to Alter

Leasehold approvals

Listed · Protected Interior

Listed building apartments

Flats within listed buildings, where protection extends to interior fabric. Altering walls, joinery, plasterwork or fireplaces can need listed building consent even inside your own apartment. We prepare heritage statements and lead the consent process.

Usual approvalsListed building consent

Listed building work

Top Floor · Terrace · High-Spec

Penthouses & top-floor apartments

Roof-terrace and top-floor homes with glazing, weight-loading and access challenges. Terrace build-ups, external joinery and integrated automation sit alongside the usual freeholder and acoustic requirements of a managed building.

Usual approvalsLTA + building control

Penthouse refurbishment

Lock-Up-&-Leave · City Base

Pied-à-terre apartments

Compact prime flats run as a London base, where every square metre is worked hard — concealed storage, multi-use rooms, robust finishes and discreet automation. Tight programmes and considerate-block protocols matter as much as the design.

Usual approvalsLTA where structural

Pied-à-terre work

Investment · Re-Let · Resale

Rental & investment apartment upgrades

Targeted refurbishment to re-let or sell to a prime standard — kitchens, bathrooms, flooring, decoration and compliance, delivered to a tight programme. We work within the lease and building rules so the upgrade does not create freeholder or managing-agent friction.

Usual approvalsLTA + compliance

Apartment upgrades

How It Works

How our Central London apartment refurbishment process works

A clear, low-stress path from first conversation to a finished apartment — with approvals run in parallel so your project starts on programme.

Step One

Initial consultation

A no-obligation conversation about your apartment, goals and budget — at our Hampstead studio, at 2 Eaton Gate in SW1, or by video. We give you an honest first read on feasibility and likely approvals.

Step Two

Site visit & lease review

We visit the flat and read your lease — identifying freeholder controls, alteration covenants, Licence to Alter triggers and any reinstatement risk before a penny is committed.

Step Three

Measured survey & feasibility

An accurate measured survey and feasibility study establish what is possible within the building's structure, services, acoustics and access constraints.

Step Four

Design, scope & budget

Architectural design, a fully scoped specification and a transparent fixed-price budget — so you know exactly what you are getting and what it costs before signing.

Step Five

Licence to Alter & freeholder approvals

We prepare and submit the Licence to Alter pack, handle the managing agent and the freeholder's surveyor, and secure planning, listed-building or party wall consents where needed — in parallel with design.

Step Six

Construction & project management

Our directly managed team builds the apartment, with lift protection, agreed working hours, dust control and daily communal cleaning. One project manager keeps you, the porter and the freeholder informed throughout.

Step Seven

Snagging, handover & aftercare

A two-stage snagging process, a clean handover, all freeholder conditions discharged, and a defined defects and aftercare period — the building left exactly as we found it.

Approvals, Leasehold & Compliance

The consents behind a Central London apartment refurbishment

A prime flat project is as much an approvals exercise as a construction one. Here is what typically applies, why it matters, and what we coordinate on your behalf — so the build starts on a clear legal and regulatory footing.

Licence to Alter / freeholder consent

When it appliesMost leasehold flats, for structural change, new hard floors, moved services or significant works

Why it mattersProceeding without it risks lease forfeiture, cost recovery and reinstatement orders

What we coordinateLease audit, drawings, schedules, warranties and surveyor negotiation

Managing agent approvals

When it appliesProfessionally managed blocks and estates

Why it mattersControls access, working hours, insurance evidence and method statements

What we coordinateDirect liaison, documentation packs and ongoing site sign-off

Planning permission

When it appliesExternal alterations, some window changes; rarely for internal-only flat works

Why it mattersFlats do not benefit from householder permitted development rights

What we coordinateFeasibility, drawings and the application via our planning support

Listed building consent

When it appliesAny building that is listed — including internal fabric

Why it mattersUnauthorised works to a listed building are a criminal offence

What we coordinateHeritage assessment, consent application and conservation-led detailing

Conservation area review / heritage statements

When it appliesThe majority of Central London addresses

Why it mattersAffects external appearance, windows and visible alterations

What we coordinateHeritage statements and pre-application dialogue with the council

Building Regulations

When it appliesStructural works, electrics, drainage, ventilation, fire and acoustics

Why it mattersRequired for compliant, insurable, sellable work

What we coordinateSubmissions, inspections and completion certification

Party Wall matters

When it appliesWorks to party structures in blocks, terraces and mixed-use buildings

Why it mattersThe Party Wall etc. Act 1996 governs notice and protects neighbours

What we coordinateNotices, surveyor appointment and awards

Acoustic upgrades / Part E

When it appliesSeparating floors and walls between dwellings

Why it mattersThe most common trigger for neighbour and freeholder disputes

What we coordinateAcoustic spec, resilient build-ups and testing where required

Fire / compartmentation / Part B

When it appliesAny works affecting separation between flats and escape routes

Why it mattersDemising walls and compartmentation are a strict safety boundary

What we coordinateCompliant detailing, fire-stopping and sign-off

Lift / hallway / communal-area protection

When it appliesEvery occupied managed building

Why it mattersDamage or mess in shared areas erodes goodwill and triggers charges

What we coordinateProtection, booked lift slots and daily communal cleaning

Delivery / working-hours / concierge access

When it appliesBlocks with porters, concierge or estate rules

Why it mattersBreaching hours or access rules stops the job

What we coordinateDelivery windows, sign-in protocols and neighbour notice

Boroughs & estates we work within

Central London flats sit across a handful of planning authorities and, in some neighbourhoods, long-established landed estates that manage their own leasehold and approval processes. We work to the standards each one expects.

Planning Authority

Westminster City Council

Covers Mayfair, Belgravia, Marylebone, Fitzrovia, Soho, Pimlico, Victoria, St James's and more — conservation-heavy with extensive listing.

Planning Authority

Kensington & Chelsea (RBKC)

Relevant to the Knightsbridge edge and adjoining prime stock, with rigorous conservation and listed-building control.

Planning Authority

Camden

Covers Bloomsbury, Holborn and part of Fitzrovia — Georgian squares, institutional conversions and strong heritage protection.

Estate-Managed

Grosvenor Estate

Long-established freeholder across much of Mayfair and Belgravia, with its own leasehold alteration and approval expectations.

Estate-Managed

Howard de Walden & Portman Estates

Principal estates across Marylebone, managing period and mansion-flat stock to consistent conservation standards.

Estate-Managed

The Crown Estate

Holdings around St James's and Regent Street, with heritage-led control over its prime Central London leaseholds.

Estate and freeholder arrangements vary by individual address and lease. We confirm exactly who controls your building and what they require before any commitment.

Scope of Works

What our Central London flat refurbishment includes

One integrated scope, delivered in-house and framed specifically for leased and managed apartment buildings — not a generic builder's list. Each discipline is coordinated with the lease, the freeholder and the block.

Measured survey & lease audit

Accurate existing-condition survey alongside a read of your lease — identifying alteration covenants, consent triggers and reinstatement risk before design begins.

Layout redesign & architectural design

Reconfiguration and full architectural design tuned to the realities of a flat — loadbearing lines, riser positions, ceiling voids and floor build-ups.

Structural engineering

Beam and padstone calculations for wall openings, tie-in details and Building Control submission — with demising and compartment walls respected as strict boundaries.

Planning, listed & heritage support

Conservation-area review, heritage statements, planning applications and listed building consent prepared and submitted where your address requires them.

Licence-to-Alter packs

Drawings to freeholder specification, schedules of works, contractor warranties and insurance certificates, compiled and managed through to an executed licence.

Freeholder & managing-agent liaison

We hold the relationship with porters, building managers and the freeholder's surveyor — access, hours, deliveries and approvals handled without your involvement.

Strip-out & protection

Controlled strip-back with communal-area protection, dust containment at source and a zip-screen to your entrance before breaking works begin.

Rewire, replumb & M&E

Full electrical rewire, replumb, heating and ventilation coordinated with the building's risers, waste stacks and supply — certified and signed off.

Kitchens & bathrooms

Bespoke kitchen design and fully tanked wet rooms with premium sanitaryware and stone — with leak protection engineered against the claim risk that derails flat projects.

Bespoke joinery, flooring & finishes

Fitted wardrobes, panelling, cabinetry, fine flooring and specialist decoration — period-faithful or contemporary, and acoustic-rated where forming part of a separating build-up.

Acoustic upgrades & fire stopping

Part E sound separation to floors, ceilings and party walls, and Part B fire-stopping between dwellings — designed to satisfy both Building Control and the freeholder's surveyor.

Snagging, handover & aftercare

Two-stage snagging, a clean handover and a defined defects and aftercare period — with the building left as we found it and the freeholder's conditions discharged.

The Finished Apartment

Premium finishes for Central London apartments

Compliance and approvals are the foundation — but what you live in is the finish. We design and build apartments that feel calm, considered and quietly luxurious, with every detail made to last.

Bespoke joinery

Hand-built cabinetry, panelling and shelving fitted to the millimetre.

Stone bathrooms

Full-height natural stone, book-matched where the space allows.

Marble surfaces

Worktops, vanities and thresholds in marble, quartzite and dolomite.

Engineered timber flooring

Wide-board European oak, laid over acoustic build-ups.

Specialist lighting

Layered, dimmable schemes with concealed and architectural detail.

Smart-home systems

Lighting, audio, climate and shading integrated discreetly.

Underfloor heating

Low-profile warmth where floor build-up and the lease allow.

Acoustic flooring

Part E build-ups that keep peace with the flat below.

Concealed storage

Every square metre worked hard — storage you never see.

Custom wardrobes

Dressing rooms and fitted wardrobes tailored to the room.

Luxury kitchens

Handmade cabinetry with premium integrated appliances.

Hotel-style bathrooms

Rainshowers, freestanding baths and brassware to match.

Budget & Cost

How much does flat refurbishment in Central London cost?

There is no single price for a Central London apartment refurbishment — it depends on the size of the flat, the specification you choose and the approvals your building requires. The bands below are a realistic guide; your figure is confirmed in writing after the survey and design stage.

Light apartment upgrade

Decoration, flooring, lighting, bathroom and kitchen refresh — cosmetic improvement without major structural or services change.

Full 1-bed flat refurbishment

Strip-out, full M&E (rewire and replumb), new kitchen and bathroom, flooring, joinery and decoration.

Full 2-bed apartment refurbishment

Full redesign, services renewal, bathrooms, fitted joinery, acoustic works and a premium finish throughout.

Lateral apartment refurbishment

Structural opening between former flats, full services redistribution, acoustic re-engineering and high-end finishes.

Mansion block refurbishment

Licence to Alter, Part E acoustic build-ups, managing-agent coordination and considerate works in an occupied block.

Luxury apartment renovation

Bespoke joinery, natural stone, specialist lighting, smart-home integration and full design and project management.

Indicative cost bands

As a guide, prime Central London apartment refurbishment is typically costed per square metre of internal floor area, by specification level, in pounds sterling (GBP £):

Standard

£550–£750

per m² (GBP)

High-end

£850–£1,200

per m² (GBP)

Premium

£1,300–£1,700

per m² (GBP)

Super-prime

£1,800–£2,200+

per m² (GBP)

What drives the cost

Specification — kitchen, stone, sanitaryware and joinery level set the largest part of the budget.
Size & layout — floor area and how much structural reconfiguration is involved.
Services renewal — full rewire, replumb, heating and ventilation versus a partial upgrade.
Acoustic build-up — Part E floors, ceilings and party walls add cost over a house equivalent.
Approvals — Licence to Alter, freeholder surveyor and listed-building fees are paid on top of the build.
Access & logistics — mansion-block hours, lift protection and timed deliveries lengthen the programme.

Good to know

Flat projects generally carry a 10–15% premium over an equivalent house refurbishment, reflecting acoustic build-ups, tanking and the longer, more controlled working programme of an occupied building.

Licence to Alter pass-through costs (freeholder application fee, their surveyor and legal fees) are separate from the build and vary by building — we tell you the likely amount at survey, with no surprises later.

Request a tailored estimate

Figures are indicative guide bands for prime Central London in 2026 and exclude VAT, FF&E and professional/approval fees. They are not a quotation; your fixed price is confirmed after survey and design.

Central London Areas We Cover

Flat refurbishment across prime Central London

Each neighbourhood has its own building stock, estate and planning context. Start here for the overview, then follow through to the dedicated area page for local detail on your address.

Mayfair

W1K

Westminster · Grosvenor Estate

Georgian townhouses, mews and mansion flats in a listed and conservation-heavy setting. Estate freeholder controls and heritage detailing shape almost every alteration.

Mayfair flat refurbishment

Belgravia

SW1X

Westminster · Grosvenor Estate

Eaton Square mansion flats and prime leasehold stock within a stuccoed conservation landscape. Heritage and estate approvals are central to any refurbishment here.

Belgravia flat refurbishment

Knightsbridge

SW1/SW7

Westminster · RBKC edge

Red-brick mansion blocks, lateral apartments and tightly managed buildings. High-spec logistics and neighbour sensitivity define the working method.

Knightsbridge flat refurbishment

Westminster

SW1

Westminster City Council

Mansion blocks and period conversions, leasehold-heavy throughout. Access, acoustics and compliance lead the programme in this dense, well-managed quarter.

Westminster flat refurbishment

Victoria

SW1

Westminster · Belgravia edge

Cubitt terraces, townhouses and mansion flats meeting more modern stock. Westminster planning and mixed period-and-modern conditions guide the design.

Victoria flat refurbishment

Pimlico

SW1V

Westminster

Cubitt terraces, garden-square buildings and mansion blocks in a strong conservation and listed setting — rich in period apartment opportunities.

Pimlico flat refurbishment

Marylebone

Westminster · Howard de Walden / Portman

Georgian townhouses and mansion flats under established estate stewardship within a Westminster conservation setting — premium apartment and listed-home work.

Marylebone flat refurbishment

Fitzrovia

Camden / Westminster split

Georgian terraces, conversions and mansion blocks straddling two boroughs. The dual-borough planning context is the defining factor for many addresses.

Fitzrovia flat refurbishment

Bloomsbury

WC1

Camden

Georgian squares, mansion blocks and institutional conversions in a Camden conservation and listed context — period apartment and conversion work.

Bloomsbury flat refurbishment

Soho

Westminster

Mixed-use buildings, upper-floor flats and mansion blocks where working hours, access and party wall sensitivity are paramount within a Westminster conservation context.

Soho flat refurbishment

Covent Garden

WC2

Westminster / Camden edge

Market-adjacent period buildings, mixed-use properties and mansion blocks. Heritage and close neighbour management shape work in this busy quarter.

Covent Garden flat refurbishment

Bayswater

Westminster

White stucco terraces, mansion blocks and split-level conversions in a conservation setting — typically flat-led refurbishment with period detail to retain.

Bayswater flat refurbishment

Paddington

Westminster · Hyde Park edge

Terraces, converted flats and mixed-use buildings near Hyde Park. Westminster controls apply and access and logistics carry particular weight here.

Paddington flat refurbishment

St James's

SW1

Westminster · Crown Estate

Townhouse and mansion-flat stock in a prime SW1 setting with Crown Estate holdings. Conservation and listed sensitivity govern alterations.

St James's flat refurbishment

Holborn

WC1

Camden

Period mansion blocks and upper-floor flats in a mixed residential and commercial quarter, with Camden conservation context and managed-building access to plan around.

Holborn flat refurbishment

Lancaster Gate

Westminster · Hyde Park edge

Grand stucco terraces and mansion-block conversions overlooking Hyde Park — leasehold, conservation-controlled and well suited to careful period apartment refurbishment.

Lancaster Gate flat refurbishment

See all Central London areas Working on a whole house instead? Explore our house refurbishment and house extension services.
Looking for a broader residential refurbishment company? See our property refurbishment in Central London service.

Beyond Central London

Nearby prime London apartment refurbishment areas

Our flat and apartment refurbishment work extends to the prime neighbourhoods bordering Central London. If your apartment sits just west of the centre, start here.

Notting Hill

W11 · stucco terraces & conversions

Kensington

W8 · mansion flats & period stock

South Kensington

SW7 · lateral & garden apartments

Chelsea

SW3 · mansion blocks & conversions

Holland Park

W11 · grand stucco apartments

Project Proof

Central London apartments we have delivered

Proven, not theoretical. A selection of completed mansion-block and apartment projects across prime Central London — each with a full case study.

Mayfair apartment refurbishment at 50 Grosvenor Street, Central London — finished interior

Premium apartment refurbishment

Full apartment refurbishment inside an estate-managed Mayfair building — new kitchen, bathrooms, lighting, joinery and finishes.

Approval · Estate freeholder & Licence to Alter

Result · Delivered and handed over to a premium standard

View case study

Knightsbridge mansion-block apartment refurbishment at 188 Rutland Court, Central London

Victorian mansion-block apartment

Interior design and refurbishment of a Victorian mansion-block apartment — bespoke kitchen, marble surfaces and premium finishing throughout.

Approval · Mansion-block freeholder & managing agent

Result · Reconfigured, refinished and fully handed over

View case study

Knightsbridge apartment refurbishment at Chevalier House, Brompton Road, Central London

Mansion-flat refurbishment

Full apartment refurbishment at Chevalier House, Brompton Road — design, build and premium finishing in a managed prime building.

Approval · Licence to Alter & acoustic compliance

Result · Completed with the block kept onside throughout

View case study

Belgravia mansion-flat refurbishment at 13 Greville House, Kinnerton Street, Central London

Leasehold mansion-flat refurbishment

Apartment refurbishment at Greville House, Kinnerton Street — design, build and finishing within Belgravia's leasehold mansion-flat stock.

Approval · Estate freeholder & Licence to Alter

Result · Refurbished and handed back to a prime finish

View case study

Pimlico period apartment refurbishment at 115 St George's Square, Central London

Period apartment, full refurbishment

Full refurbishment of a white-stucco Pimlico apartment — period restoration, bespoke joinery, marble bathrooms and premium interior finishing.

Approval · Conservation area & leasehold consent

Result · Period character retained, fully modernised

View case study

Prime apartment, full renovation

Full renovation of a prime apartment at Royal Court House — layout refinement, bespoke joinery, kitchen, bathrooms and premium finishing.

Approval · Managing agent & building control

Result · Reconfigured layout, delivered turnkey

View case study

Browse all case studies

Why Clients Choose Hampstead Renovations

Built for the realities of prime Central London flats

The things that decide a Central London apartment project are rarely about decoration. They are about consent, coordination and discipline inside someone else's building — which is exactly where we are strongest.

One integrated team

Architects, engineers, surveyors and builders under one roof, on one contract, with a single point of responsibility — no gaps between separate consultants.

Leasehold & Licence-to-Alter fluency

We read leases, prepare LTA packs and negotiate with the freeholder's surveyor as a matter of routine, running consent in parallel with design.

Planning & heritage coordination

Conservation areas, listed buildings and estate standards are handled through our in-house planning and heritage support, not subcontracted away.

Directly managed build

Our own delivery team runs the site — not a chain of subcontractors — which is what keeps quality, programme and conduct under control.

Mansion-block discipline

Lift protection, restricted hours, dust control and communal cleaning are standard. The freeholder, the porter and the neighbours stay onside.

Premium finish delivery

Bespoke joinery, fine stone, specialist decoration and fully tanked wet rooms — detailed to a prime standard and engineered against leak risk.

Access & neighbour management

Delivery windows, concierge sign-in and advance neighbour notice are agreed up front, so the works run quietly in an occupied building.

Hampstead-based, Central London-active

Our studio is in Hampstead, with consultations at 2 Eaton Gate in SW1 — close to the prime Central London buildings we work in.

Plan With Confidence

The Central London flat refurbishment checklist

Before you commit to a Central London apartment project, these are the items that decide whether it runs smoothly. We work through every one with you — ask us to send the full version for your building.

Licence to Alter — is freeholder consent required?

Freeholder consent — covenants and conditions

Managing agent requirements and documentation

Contractor insurance evidence (PI, PL, EL)

Part E acoustic upgrades to floors and walls

Permitted working hours and noisy-works windows

Lift booking and protection for deliveries

Communal-area protection and daily cleaning

Party wall notices and awards where applicable

Building Regulations and completion certificates

Planning, listed-building or conservation consent

Snagging, handover and aftercare arrangements

Request the full checklist for your building

Tell us your address and we will send a checklist tailored to your block and lease.

Local Knowledge

The mansion blocks and lateral apartments of Central London

Central London apartment stock is unusually varied, and each typology sets its own rules for a refurbishment.

Central London's flats run from the red-brick Edwardian mansion blocks of Knightsbridge and Marylebone to the lateral apartments behind the stuccoed facades of Belgravia and the garden-square conversions of Mayfair, Bayswater and Pimlico. Much of the finest stock sits on the great estates — the Grosvenor Estate across Mayfair and Belgravia, the Howard de Walden and Portman estates in Marylebone, and the Crown Estate around St James's — each with its own leasehold and alteration standards.

In the portered blocks around Eaton Square, Cadogan Square, Lowndes Square, Albert Hall Mansions and Rutland Court, a project is shaped as much by the freeholder's acoustic schedule, the porter's delivery window and the service-lift dimensions as by the design. Knowing how these buildings are run — and what their managing agents expect — is what keeps a Central London flat refurbishment moving.

Eaton SquareCadogan SquareLowndes SquareAlbert Hall MansionsGrosvenor EstateHoward de Walden EstatePortman EstateCrown Estate

Central London Flat Refurbishment FAQ

Questions clients ask before they start

Do you refurbish flats and apartments across Central London?

Yes. Hampstead Renovations delivers flat refurbishment and apartment renovation projects across Central London, including Mayfair, Knightsbridge, Belgravia, Westminster, Victoria, Soho, Covent Garden, Marylebone, Fitzrovia, Bloomsbury, Pimlico, Bayswater, Paddington and St James's. We specialise in leasehold flats, mansion block apartments, lateral apartments and prime Central London homes that need careful approvals, design and construction management.

What is the difference between flat refurbishment and apartment renovation in Central London?

In practice they describe the same work — a full or partial interior refurbishment of a leasehold home within a managed building. “Apartment renovation” tends to be used for larger lateral or mansion-flat schemes, and “flat refurbishment” for conversions and single-floor flats. Either way, the controlling factors are the lease, the freeholder and the building's services and acoustics, not the label.

Do I need a Licence to Alter before refurbishing a flat in Central London?

Almost certainly, if you are a leaseholder. Most Central London leases require the freeholder's written consent — a Licence to Alter — for structural changes, new hard flooring, moving bathrooms or kitchens, and altering services. We read your lease at survey stage, prepare the application pack and manage the freeholder and managing-agent approvals alongside the design. See our guide to leasehold renovation permissions.

Do I need planning permission to renovate a flat in Central London?

Internal alterations to a flat usually do not need planning permission, and the householder permitted development rights that help houses do not generally apply to flats. Planning can still be triggered by external changes, replacement windows, or works to a listed building or within a conservation area. We confirm the position for your specific address before the design is finalised.

Does listed building consent apply to internal flat alterations?

It can. If your building is listed, the listing covers the interior as well as the exterior, so internal works — removing or altering walls, joinery, plasterwork or fireplaces — may require listed building consent even though they are inside your flat. We assess this early and prepare heritage statements and consent applications where they are needed. See our listed building work.

How do you work with freeholders and managing agents?

We deal with them directly so you don't have to. That means submitting the Licence to Alter pack, providing insurance certificates and method statements, agreeing working hours, lift bookings and communal-area protection, and responding to the freeholder's surveyor. Keeping the building's management onside is what allows a Central London flat project to run without complaints or stoppages.

How long does a Central London apartment refurbishment usually take?

As a guide, a one-bedroom flat is roughly 20–24 weeks from feasibility to handover, a two-bedroom flat 24–28 weeks, and a larger lateral apartment 32–40 weeks — with the Licence to Alter run in parallel with design rather than after it. Programmes vary with scope, approvals and building access, so we give you a realistic timeline at survey.

Can you refurbish mansion block apartments in Central London?

Yes — mansion-block and period-conversion flats are the core of our Central London work, from red-brick Edwardian blocks in Knightsbridge to garden-square buildings in Pimlico and Bayswater. We plan deliveries, lift protection, acoustic upgrades and neighbour management around the realities of an occupied block.

Do you handle party wall matters and building-control coordination?

Yes. Where works affect a party structure — common in mansion blocks, terraces and mixed-use buildings — we coordinate the notices and awards under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. We also manage Building Regulations sign-off, including Part E acoustics and Part B fire compartmentation, as part of the contract.

Which Central London areas do you cover?

All the prime Central London neighbourhoods, each with its own live area page: Mayfair, Belgravia, Knightsbridge, Westminster, Victoria, Pimlico, Marylebone, Fitzrovia, Bloomsbury, Soho, Covent Garden, Bayswater, Paddington and St James's, plus Holborn and Lancaster Gate. See all Central London flat-refurbishment areas above.

Can you handle both design and construction under one contract?

Yes. Architects, engineers, surveyors and builders work under one roof, so design, approvals and build sit in a single contract with one point of responsibility. You are not coordinating an architect, a separate contractor and a separate surveyor — we hold the whole programme from first survey to handover and aftercare.