House renovations in Selly Oak

Before your renovation in Selly Oak

There's no planning application for internal work in Selly Oak, but Building Regulations still apply to structural changes, electrics, drainage and fire safety. We tell you at the survey which parts need approval or certification.

Listed buildings need consent from Birmingham City Council for internal as well as external alterations.
Rewiring is notifiable under Part P, so you should receive an electrical installation certificate and a Building Regulations compliance certificate.
Fitting the kitchen and bathroom after plastering is finished protects them from damage and dust.

Postcode district: B29
Planning and building control: Birmingham City Council
From our West Bromwich base: 6 miles

Choices to weigh up in Selly Oak

Empty or inherited property

A house standing empty can be renovated faster because every room is free to work in at once. If it has been empty for two years or more, a reduced VAT rate may apply where VAT is charged. Empty houses often need extra checks for frost damage to pipes, damp and security before work starts.

Refresh: rewire, re-plaster and redecorate

For a house with a sound kitchen and bathroom but dated electrics and tired walls. The rewire happens first, then walls and ceilings are skimmed or re-plastered, and the house is ready for decoration. It's the lightest whole-house option, and the one where living at home is most practical.

House renovations prices in Selly Oak

Prices in Selly Oak match the rest of our area: £18,000–£130,000 depending on size and specification. Full refurbishment of a three-bed semi: rewire, re-plaster, heating, kitchen and bathroom: usually £50,000–£68,000.

Guide prices for house renovations
Option	Guide price	Good to know
Refresh: rewire, re-plaster and decorate prep	£18,000 – £32,000	Kitchen and bathroom kept
Full refurbishment	£45,000 – £75,000	The usual scope on a three-bed semi
Renovation with layout and structural changes	£75,000 – £130,000	Steels, moved rooms, more trades and a longer programme

Guide ranges include VAT where it applies. Your fixed price for the agreed specification follows a free survey at your Selly Oak address.

House renovations in Selly Oak: common questions

What happens if you find problems once walls are opened?

We stop, show you, and price the extra work in writing before doing it. Common finds in older homes include damp, rotten joists, old lead water pipes and wiring hidden behind plaster. Your quote is a fixed price for the agreed specification, and nothing outside it is added without your written agreement. We also point out at the survey anything we suspect but can't yet confirm.

How do I book a survey in Selly Oak?

Send the form on this page, use the guide-price tool or call 0800 088 6248 free. We'll ask a few questions about your renovation and arrange a time to visit.

Can I live in the house during a renovation?

You can during a light refresh, but it's hard during a full refurbishment. Rewiring and re-plastering touch every room, there will be days without power, water or a kitchen, and dust gets everywhere. Most people move out for the heaviest weeks, and some stay in one finished room. Working in an empty house is faster, so it can bring the finish date forward.

Will I need permission from the council in Selly Oak?

Not for planning — internal work isn't development unless the house is listed. Building Regulations approval is needed for structural work such as removing a load-bearing wall, through Birmingham City Council or a registered building control approver.

Close to Selly Oak

Other home improvements in Selly Oak

Book a whole-house survey in Selly Oak and we'll give you an itemised quote broken down by room and trade.