What should you know before starting in Smethwick?
There's no planning application for internal work in Smethwick, 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.
- Rewiring is notifiable under Part P, so you should receive an electrical installation certificate and a Building Regulations compliance certificate.
- Hacking off and re-plastering more than half of an external wall can trigger a requirement to insulate it.
- A house that's been empty for two years or more may qualify for 5% VAT on renovation work where VAT is charged.
- Postcode district
- B66
- Planning and building control
- Sandwell Council
- From our West Bromwich base
- 2 miles
Which option fits your home?
Renovation with layout changes
Adds structural work such as knocking the kitchen and dining room together, moving a bathroom, or forming an en-suite. These changes need structural calculations and Building Regulations approval and are designed before anything else is ordered, because they decide where pipes, cables and lights go in every room affected.
Full refurbishment
Rewire, heating upgrade, re-plastering, a new kitchen and bathroom, new internal doors, skirting and floors. This is the usual scope for an older home that hasn't been updated in a long time. The trades are sequenced so the kitchen and bathroom go in after all the dusty, wet work is finished, which protects the new fittings.
House renovations prices in Smethwick
Prices in Smethwick 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.
| 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. We confirm a fixed price for the agreed specification after visiting.
Your questions answered
How long does a whole-house renovation take?
A full refurbishment of a typical three-bed house usually takes 8–16 weeks on site. A refresh with a rewire and re-plaster can take 4–6 weeks, while projects with structural changes take longer. Ordering the kitchen, bathroom and any steel early stops the programme stalling, and plaster needs time to dry before decorating, which is built into the timetable.
Do you cover Smethwick?
Yes. Smethwick (B66) is about 2 miles from our West Bromwich base and inside the area we cover. Call 0800 088 6248 or send the form on this page to book a free survey.
Is VAT charged at 20% on renovation work?
Renovating an occupied home is normally standard-rated. Where VAT is charged, a house that has been empty for at least two years before work starts can qualify for the reduced 5% rate on qualifying work, with evidence such as a letter from the council confirming how long it's been empty. Your quote sets out exactly how VAT applies to your job.
Will I need permission from the council in Smethwick?
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 Sandwell Council or a registered building control approver.
Nearby places we cover
- House renovations in Handsworth
- House renovations in West Bromwich
- House renovations in Oldbury
- House renovations in Harborne
More services in Smethwick
- Single-storey extensions in Smethwick
- Garage conversions in Smethwick
- Knock-through walls in Smethwick
- Conservatories in Smethwick
- Patios in Smethwick
- Painting and decorating in Smethwick
Get a rough guide price for your Smethwick renovation online, then a fixed price for the agreed specification after the survey.