Refurbishing an existing building is often the best value way to improve a property in London. Space is scarce, so upgrading layouts, energy performance and finishes can add more to comfort, rental position and value than moving or rebuilding. This page covers how we approach refurbishment for owners, landlords and investors, from the first survey to handover.
Design stage
- Survey the existing property to understand its condition, structure and services
- Identify structural and services upgrades that are needed, not just desirable
- Prepare concept layouts or 3D visualisations
- Provide early cost estimates to test against the budget
- Advise whether planning permission or listed building consent is required
Build stage
- Coordinate trades and specialist subcontractors under one programme
- Monitor progress against programme and budget, with regular reporting
- Manage health and safety under CDM 2015
- Manage neighbour relations and keep disruption to a minimum
- Control quality through regular inspections and snagging
For landlords and investors
- Specification for the long term: durable, low-maintenance materials and systems that reduce running costs.
- Compliance: electrical, gas, fire safety and EPC improvements documented at handover.
- Programme certainty: void periods kept short with early procurement and clear sequencing.
- Mixed-use buildings: commercial ground floors refurbished alongside flats above, with fire and acoustic separation, as in our team’s Hackney house and shop unit.
- Occupied buildings: phased works in buildings that stay in use, such as our team’s student accommodation refurbishment in King’s Cross and Spitalfields.
