UK Property Refurbishment
- From structural upgrades to full interior transformations, UpKeep UK delivers quality property refurbishment.
- Trusted by homeowners, developers and landlords looking for a reliable, skilled team to bring their property vision to life.
- Fixed quotes, clear timelines and guaranteed workmanship - no surprises, just results.
Richmond Refurbishment
A full-scale home renovation located in Richmond breathed new life into this once-tired property. Our team re-imagined the open-plan living and kitchen areas, refreshed all rooms with coordinated finishes, and
Luxury Renovation Primrose Hill
A premium London renovation combining craftsmanship and elegance in the heart of Primrose Hill. We carried out a complete internal transformation featuring bespoke joinery, high-end finishes, and new lighting throughout.
Clifton Full Home Renovation
This property underwent a full internal remodel to create a cohesive, modern living environment.
From the kitchen and bathroom upgrades to soft redecoration across all rooms, we delivered a
Property refurbishment in London is the process of upgrading and transforming an existing property, from a cosmetic refresh to a full structural renovation. UpKeep is a London-based design-and-build and refurbishment specialist that handles the whole project under one roof - structural alterations, rewiring and replumbing, new kitchens and bathrooms, plastering, flooring and decoration. Every refurbishment is delivered on a transparent fixed-price quote, with one accountable team and guaranteed workmanship.
Refurbishment without the usual surprises
A refurbishment is one of the biggest, most disruptive investments you will make in a property. Most of what goes wrong is predictable - and avoidable with the right team. Here is what people dread, and how UpKeep removes it.
Free site survey - fixed-price quote - FMB & TrustMark accredited
Costs that creep past the quote
You agree one figure and somehow pay another. We quote a fixed price against a scope agreed in writing, so the figure you sign off is the figure you pay, barring changes you ask for.
Builders who overrun or vanish
Half-finished jobs and unanswered calls are the industry's worst habit. You get one dedicated project manager, an agreed timeline, regular updates and a team still there at handover and after.
Juggling trades, designers and surveyors
Coordinating separate contractors is a second job. UpKeep is design-and-build under one roof, so drawings, building control, structural work and every trade are run by one accountable team.
Disruption with no clear end
Living through the works, or losing rental weeks, with no finish line. We plan and phase the programme around an occupied or let property and clear the snagging list before we sign off.
Why choose UpKeep for property refurbishment
One team from first drawings to final handover. No gaps between designer, builder and trades, and no finger-pointing when something needs sorting.
A transparent, itemised quotation against a scope agreed in writing. You know what is included, what is not, and what it costs before we start.
A single point of contact who runs the programme and keeps you updated, with detailed before-and-after photo reports and clear invoicing.
Victorian and Edwardian stock, damp and old plaster, awkward layouts and structural alterations. We know how London homes are built and where the hidden costs hide.
As a property maintenance company as well as a builder, we can keep your refurbished property maintained for years - something a pure refurbishment contractor cannot offer.
Types of property refurbishment we deliver
From a single tired flat to a whole Victorian house, we take on refurbishment projects of every scale across London and the UK.
Top-to-bottom transformation of a whole property, from strip-out and structure to the final coat of paint.
Flat renovation done cleanly in shared and managed buildings, working around access, lifts and neighbours.
Sympathetic refurbishment of older London stock - lime plaster, sash windows, cornicing and damp put right.
Turning rentals around to relet or sell, lifting standards and yield with minimal void weeks.
New kitchens and bathrooms as part of a wider project or as a standalone upgrade.
Kitchen & bathroom workWall removals, steel beams and open-plan layouts, with structural calculations and building control handled.
Who property refurbishment is right for
Refurbishing the home you live in, on a fixed price with a clean, respectful site and one team accountable end to end.
Turning a property around to relet or sell, lifting yield and bringing it up to standard, with minimal void weeks. See our landlord property upkeep service.
Reliable capacity, schedule certainty and a single point of contact across flips, conversions and commercial refurbishment.
How UpKeep deliver your refurbishment
We visit, understand your vision, assess the property's condition and feasibility, and talk through scope and options.
Drawings and specification where needed, and a transparent, itemised fixed-price quotation - scope agreed in writing so there are no surprises.
Structural calculations and building control where the work is structural, and Part P electrical sign-off; planning or permitted-development checks only where the property is listed, in a conservation area, or the work is external.
One dedicated project manager, vetted trades, an agreed timeline, regular updates, and a programme phased around an occupied or let property where needed.
Final walkthrough, snagging list cleared, building control completion certificate and electrical certificates handed over.
Workmanship guarantee, before-and-after photo report, and ongoing maintenance available under the same roof.
Free site survey - fixed-price quote - one accountable team
Every trade and discipline under one roof
A full refurbishment touches a dozen disciplines. With UpKeep they are all coordinated by one team on one fixed-price quote - no chasing separate contractors.
Ready to refurbish your London property?
Book a free site survey and we will give you a transparent, fixed-price quote with the scope agreed in writing - one accountable team from first drawings to final handover.
Free site survey - fixed-price quote - FMB & TrustMark accredited - fully insured & guaranteed
A property refurbishment is part construction project, part paperwork exercise and part logistics puzzle. Here is a plain-English guide to what is involved, how UpKeep manages it, and how to work out what your property actually needs.
What's involved in a London property refurbishment
Every refurbishment is different, but the moving parts are usually the same: agreeing a scope, securing any approvals, stripping out, doing the structural and first-fix work, then the second-fix, finishes and decoration. The skill is in sequencing it so trades are not tripping over each other and the budget holds. That is what a single accountable team and a fixed-price quote are for. If you want the longer read, our London building refurbishment process guide walks through it step by step.
Planning permission vs permitted development
Most internal refurbishment is classed as permitted development - you are improving the inside of the property without changing its external appearance, so no planning application is needed. The exceptions are listed buildings, properties in conservation areas, and works that alter the exterior. If you are unsure, the Planning Portal and the government's guidance on when you need planning permission and permitted development rights for householders are the authoritative sources - and we will confirm where you stand at the survey.
Building regulations, structural work and completion certificates
Planning is about what a building looks like; building regulations are about whether it is safe and sound. Structural alterations, new electrics, plumbing and heating all need building control sign-off. If we are taking out a wall to open up a layout, we install a steel beam - an RSJ (rolled steel joist), the beam that carries the load the wall used to - with structural calculations to prove it is sized correctly. New or altered wiring is covered by Part P, the electrical safety section of the building regulations. At the end you receive a building control completion certificate and electrical certificates - documents you will want if you ever sell. The official reference is the government's building regulations approval guidance.
Party wall agreements
If your works affect a wall you share with a neighbour - underpinning it, cutting into it for a beam, or building off it - the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 may apply, which means serving notice on the neighbour before work starts. It sounds daunting but is routine; the government's Party Wall etc. Act guidance explains it, and we flag it early so it never holds up the programme.
Refurbishment vs full renovation - which does your property need?
The words get used interchangeably, but the distinction matters for budget and timeline. Refurbishment usually means updating the existing layout and finishes; full renovation goes further into structure, layout redesign and complete systems upgrades. For a side-by-side, see our guide on renovating vs refurbishing your London property.
When refurbishment is the right call
If the structure is sound, the finishes are simply dated and the layout mostly works, a refurbishment is usually the sensible, cost-effective choice - rewiring, replastering, new kitchen and bathroom, fresh decoration. A full renovation or rebuild makes more sense when the layout fights you, the structure needs serious attention, or you want to fundamentally change how the space works. We will give you an honest steer at the survey rather than over-specifying the job.
Refurbishing to let or to sell
For landlords and investors, a refurbishment is a numbers exercise: spend sensibly, lift the value or the rent, and keep void periods short. We phase works to get a property back on the market quickly, bring tired rentals up to standard - including improvements that help with EPC ratings - and finish to a level that photographs well for listings. Our refurbishment guide for UK landlords and owners covers the value-uplift thinking, and you can browse completed work on our projects page, including a recent Chelsea property refurbishment.
Period and Victorian properties
London's Victorian property stock is beautiful and full of surprises - lime plaster that does not behave like modern plaster, rising and penetrating damp, undersized joists and decades of patched-over work. These are exactly the hidden issues that blow a budget if they are not found early, which is why an upfront survey protects the fixed quote. For listed or historically significant buildings, Historic England sets out what you can and cannot change. Our Victorian property guide goes deeper.
"On a refurbishment the surprises are almost always behind the walls - old wiring, damp, undersized joists. We survey properly up front and price for what we find, so the fixed quote holds and you are not hit with a bill halfway through."
Drahim, UpKeepUpKeep is London-based and family-run, covering London and surrounding areas with construction and refurbishment projects delivered across the UK. To get started, book your free site survey or call 020 3148 8884 and we will talk through your property.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a property refurbishment cost in London?
Every refurbishment is priced individually, so there is no fixed figure - the cost depends on the size and condition of the property, how much is structural, the level of finish and whether you are reconfiguring the layout. UpKeep gives you a transparent, fixed-price quote after a free site survey, with the scope agreed in writing so there are no surprises along the way.
What's the difference between refurbishment and renovation?
Refurbishment usually means updating and improving the existing layout and finishes - rewiring, replastering, new kitchens and bathrooms, decoration. Renovation often goes further, with structural changes, layout redesign and full systems upgrades. UpKeep handles both, from a cosmetic refresh to a full structural overhaul, under one fixed-price quote.
Do I need planning permission to refurbish my house?
Most internal refurbishment is classed as permitted development and needs no planning application. Planning permission is usually only required where the property is listed, in a conservation area, or the work changes the exterior. Structural alterations, new electrics, plumbing and heating still need building regulations approval, which we handle for you.
How long does a property refurbishment take?
It depends entirely on the scope - a single-room refresh is a matter of days, while a full house refurbishment with structural work runs to several weeks or more. We confirm a realistic timeline in writing before work starts and keep you updated throughout, rather than giving a fixed guarantee we cannot stand behind.
Can I live in the property during the works?
For light, phased refurbishments, often yes. Full refurbishments involving rewiring, heating or structural work usually make staying impractical, and most clients move out to speed the project up and keep it safe. We will advise honestly at the site survey and phase the programme around an occupied or let property where it helps.
Do you handle structural work and building regulations?
Yes. We manage structural alterations including wall removals and steel beams (RSJs), with the structural calculations and building control sign-off coordinated as part of the project, and hand over the completion certificate at the end.
Do you refurbish rental properties and HMOs for landlords?
Yes - it is a core part of what we do. We turn rentals around to cut void periods and lift yield, and bring properties up to standard for letting, including works that help with EPC and Decent Homes requirements. As a maintenance contractor too, we can keep the property right after handover.
What's included in your refurbishment quote?
Your fixed-price quote is itemised and sets out the full scope of works - what is included and what is not - so there are no vague lump sums. We carry out a free site survey first, and never price a refurbishment over the phone.
Do you provide a guarantee and are you insured?
Yes. All UpKeep refurbishment work is fully insured and covered by a workmanship guarantee, and we are Federation of Master Builders and TrustMark accredited. You also receive a before-and-after photo report and clear invoicing.
Which areas of London and the UK do you cover?
UpKeep is London-based and covers London and surrounding areas, with construction and refurbishment projects delivered across the UK. Get in touch with your postcode and we will confirm.
Related services & reading
Browse all of our completed work on the projects page, or learn more about UpKeep.