Flat refurbishment
in Tooting, SW17
In-house RIBA Chartered Architects, structural engineers and build delivery under one contract.
Survey. Design. Consent. Build.
Plan a Tooting flat refurbishment around Wandsworth's consent route for converted flats, the lease's requirements and one coordinated design-and-build programme.
The consent route for a Tooting flat refurbishment
Where a Tooting flat sits in a converted house, Wandsworth Council's householder guidance directs a proposal requiring planning permission to the full application route rather than the householder form. The building type therefore changes the application route, not just the paperwork.
That is why tenure and building type are confirmed at the survey stage rather than assumed from the postal address: a purpose-built flat, a converted flat and a maisonette can each face a different consent picture for the same physical scope of work.
Alongside the council route, the lease and proposed alterations determine whether a leasehold refurbishment needs the freeholder's consent, so the licence-to-alter requirements are read together with the planning position before the programme is fixed.
A conversion flat before an application route
For a Tooting flat, start with the proposed alterations and whether they need planning permission at all. Where an application is needed, confirm the appropriate form for the building type. Alongside that check, survey shared drainage, floors and access and read the lease before committing to a new kitchen or bathroom position.
What a Flat Refurbishment Involves
Refurbishing a flat means renovating inside a building you share — so the job is as much about leases, neighbours and building rules as it is about kitchens and finishes. We plan every project around the consents your lease demands and the protocols your block expects, then deliver the technical work under one fixed-price contract. A typical scope covers the elements below.
- Licence to Alter — lease review, application pack and freeholder’s surveyor queries handled on your behalf
- Acoustic build-up — separating floors and walls upgraded to meet Building Regulations Part E and any stricter freeholder schedule
- Wet-room tanking — certified waterproofing beneath every bathroom, flood-tested before tiling and covered by a 12-month defects period
- Rewire & replumb — new circuits, pipework and heating, coordinated with the building’s risers and stacks
- Layout changes — internal openings engineered, approved by building control and cleared with the freeholder where the lease allows
- Kitchens & bathrooms — designed, supplied and fitted to the specification tier you select
- Period detail — cornicing, sash windows and fireplaces retained and repaired in conversion flats
- Block protocols — lift protection, booked deliveries, restricted noisy hours and daily cleaning of communal areas
How We Run Your Project
Six stages, with the consent requirements and their effect on the programme considered before work starts.
- Survey & lease review — we measure the flat, inspect the services and read your lease to identify exactly which consents apply.
- Design & consents — our architects develop the layout while the Licence to Alter application runs in parallel, not afterwards.
- Fixed-price contract — an itemised specification agreed in full, with the acoustic and tanking details written in.
- Strip-out & first fix — soft strip, structural openings, cabling, pipework and the acoustic carcass, all removed and delivered through agreed routes.
- Second fix & finishes — kitchen, bathrooms, joinery, flooring and decoration.
- Testing & handover — snagging, certification and reinstatement of any communal areas before the keys come back to you.
Read the full flat refurbishment guide for flat typologies, specification tiers and the Licence to Alter process in detail.
Read the lease and identify any required freeholder consent or Licence to Alter for the proposed work before it is programmed. Planning permission, listed-building consent and Building Regulations are separate checks. Flats do not share the householder permitted-development rights available to houses, but that does not mean every external repair needs an application: like-for-like window replacement may not need planning permission, subject to the property and local requirements. Check the actual alteration, including any effect on a listed building's special interest. Our planning guide library explains the separate approval routes.
Why Hampstead Renovations
Flat refurbishment rewards a team that already knows what freeholders and managing agents will ask for. Design is led by our in-house RIBA Chartered Architects, lease and party-structure matters are supported by RICS surveying through our sister company, Hampstead Chartered Surveyors, and the build is carried out by our own long-standing teams. Every contract is fixed-price on JCT terms, backed by £10M public liability insurance — the level major London freeholders require — plus a 12-month defects period. Enquire before 2pm on a weekday and we will call you back the same day.
What does a flat refurbishment cost in Tooting?
A flat refurbishment in Tooting runs £900–£1,700/sqm excluding VAT, and a full two-bedroom refurbishment typically lands between £60,000 and £110,000. Most programmes take 16–32 weeks on site. A written scope and site assessment are needed before any project price can be fixed.
| Scope of work | Guide rate | Typical total |
|---|---|---|
| Full flat refurbishment (2-bed) | £900–£1,700/sqm | £60,000–£110,000 |
| Typical programme | 16–32 weeks on site | |
Guide rates exclude VAT and are set by depth of work, not by property type. Compare scopes in our London refurbishment cost-per-square-metre guide.
Flat Refurbishment in Tooting: Questions
Which planning route applies to a Tooting flat refurbishment?
First establish whether the proposed alterations need planning permission. Where an application is required for a flat in a converted house, Wandsworth’s guidance directs applicants to the full planning application route rather than a householder form. Check the building type, lease and physical scope separately before fixing the design and price.
What do you confirm before pricing a Tooting flat refurbishment?
First establish whether the proposed alterations need planning permission. Where an application is required for a flat in a converted house, Wandsworth’s guidance directs applicants to the full planning application route rather than a householder form. Check the building type, lease and physical scope separately before fixing the design and price.
How much does a flat refurbishment cost in Tooting?
Guide rates in Tooting are £900–£1,700/sqm excluding VAT, with a full two-bedroom refurbishment typically between £60,000 and £110,000, over a 16–32 weeks programme. A written scope and site assessment come before any fixed price.
Relevant Completed Flat Refurbishment Projects
Guides & Local Reading
Flat Refurbishment in Nearby Areas
More Services in Tooting
Book a Free Consultation
Visit our studio or invite us to survey your home. We’ll assess scope, discuss design possibilities and provide an honest budget framework — completely free.
Free Consultation
We survey your property, discuss your vision and provide a clear budget framework.