RFPGBuy-to-Let Refurb Costs: Budget for Letting Standard, Not Just Looks
A buy-to-let refurb isn't just decorating — it's getting the property to a legal, lettable, mortgage-able standard. Compliance items are the ones that catch new landlords out.
Typical BTL refurb costs (UK)
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| EPC upgrade works (insulation, heating controls) | £1,500 – £8,000 |
| Electrical safety (EICR remedials / consumer unit) | £300 – £2,500 |
| New boiler / heating system | £2,500 – £4,500 |
| Kitchen (letting standard) | £3,500 – £7,000 |
| Bathroom (letting standard) | £3,000 – £6,000 |
| Full redecorate + flooring (2–3 bed) | £3,000 – £7,000 |
Landlords must hold a valid EICR, gas safety certificate, and meet smoke/CO alarm rules before letting. Minimum EPC standards for rentals are tightening — check the current requirement before buying a low-rated property.
Where BTL budgets go wrong
New landlords budget for the visible works and miss the compliance list — then the EICR flags a rewire, or the EPC needs £5,000 of insulation before the property can legally be let. Pricing those in before you offer changes what the deal is worth.
Scan the property and get an itemised BTL refurb estimate →How RFPG helps landlords
Film a walkthrough and RFPG produces a per-room, per-trade estimate, flags likely compliance issues (dated consumer units, old boilers, poor insulation signs), and shows the rental maths — so you know the true all-in cost of getting to "tenant ready" before you commit.
FAQs
Can I let a property immediately after buying? Only if it already meets the compliance requirements — EICR, gas safety, alarms, and minimum EPC rating. Most refurb projects can't be let until the works and certificates are done.
What should I budget for a typical 3-bed BTL refurb? For a dated but sound 3-bed, typical published ranges are £10,000–£25,000 to reach a good letting standard, depending on how much compliance work is needed. We cannot verify these figures.