If your London flat or period home no longer fits the way you live and work, 2026 is the ideal year to reset it properly. Rather than patching one room at a time, a full flat refurbishment or whole home refurbishment brings everything together, layout, services, finishes, and comfort, into one controlled project with one accountable team.

At Home Improvements and Construction Ltd, known locally as HICL Builders, we are a family run, turnkey London property refurbishment company based in Kingston and New Malden. We manage design coordination, skilled trades, programme, and quality under one roof, so you do not have to juggle multiple contractors. Our director, Andi Drishti, has nearly 20 years in the industry and is City and Guilds certified, with a particular strength in qualified carpentry and interpreting structural plans. Clients often comment on his ability to spot practical solutions early, and Debra supports from the office to keep communication warm, clear, and responsive.

Why Full Refurbishments Make Sense in London in 2026

Older flats often suffer from awkward layouts, tired finishes, limited storage, and dated electrics and plumbing. A well planned apartment renovation London 2026 project improves day to day comfort, usability, and the overall feel of your home. It also protects value, because buyers and tenants increasingly expect modern kitchens, bathrooms, safe electrics, and good ventilation.

Crucially, a single managed refurbishment can reduce disruption compared with repeated smaller jobs. One coordinated programme means one strip out, one set of deliveries, one sequence of inspections, and one handover. That is where HICL Builders refurbishment projects stand out: you receive a detailed quote, contract, and plan of works, plus a schedule of works for major builds so you can track progress with confidence.

If you want a smart starting point before you speak to any contractor, read our guide on the overlooked questions that protect your budget, programme, and peace of mind.

What A Full Flat Refurbishment Typically Includes

A full refurbishment is more than a cosmetic refresh. It is a structured upgrade of the home’s fabric, services, and finishes so everything works together and lasts.

Most full flat refurbishment London projects include:

• Strip out and preparation
  
  
• Layout tweaks and internal carpentry
  
  
• First fix electrics and plumbing
  
  
• Heating controls and ventilation upgrades
  
  
• Kitchen and bathroom installation
  
  
• Flooring, decorating, and final finishes
  
  

In London flats, hidden issues are common. Uneven floors, historic leaks, poor extraction, and old consumer units can all derail a project if they are discovered late. That is why we start with careful surveying and a clear scope before major orders are placed. The goal is simple: fewer surprises, cleaner decision making, and a smoother build.

Layout, Storage and Lighting: Quick Wins That Feel Premium

When homeowners describe the “tired to tailored” moment, it is often about how the home flows and how it feels at night as much as how it looks in photos. Even without major structural change, smart layout choices can make a flat feel calmer, brighter, and more generous.

Practical upgrades often include improving the connection between kitchen and living space where viable, building in storage such as wardrobes and utility cupboards, and creating a layered lighting plan that balances task lighting with warm ambience. In blocks and period properties, we also plan carefully around structural walls, service routes, building rules, and neighbour noise considerations.

To keep decisions controlled, we recommend agreeing three deliverables early: a measured survey, a layout plan, and a finishes schedule aligned to your budget. This prevents last minute changes that cause stress, cost creep, and delays.

Kitchens, Bathrooms and Joinery: The Value Drivers

Kitchens and bathrooms are still the biggest value drivers in a London home renovation contractor London project. A well designed kitchen should be storage led, built with durable surfaces, and planned properly for power, appliances, and lighting. Bathrooms need strong waterproofing, reliable ventilation, efficient layouts, and quality tiling and lighting that will look good for years.

Joinery ties everything together. Consistent doors and ironmongery, built in shelving, and well planned wardrobes make a home feel intentional rather than pieced together. Done well, these upgrades boost buyer confidence and improve daily life immediately.

A good example is our kitchen and living room refurbishment for a growing family. With a baby on the way, we delivered a detailed three week schedule, upgraded cabinetry, appliances, lighting, flooring, plastering, and created a cohesive design that connected kitchen, dining, and living spaces, all while carefully coordinating trades and inspections to stay on programme without cutting corners.

Electrics, Plumbing and Comfort Upgrades Behind The Scenes

If you are planning an electrical rewiring London refurbishment, the best time to do it is during a full refurbishment, when access is already opened up. Where systems are dated, rewiring can improve safety and capacity, and it should always be completed with the correct certification. Plan sockets, lighting circuits, data points, and alarms early so the finished home feels effortless, not compromised.

Plumbing upgrades matter just as much. A plumbing upgrade London flat project may involve replacing ageing pipework, improving water pressure, updating radiators, and adding better controls so heat is consistent and efficient. Ventilation upgrades, particularly in kitchens and bathrooms, reduce condensation and mould risk and protect finishes long term.

As a turnkey team, we coordinate qualified plumbers and NICEIC electricians alongside builders, carpenters, plasterers, and decorators, then hand over a clean, documented finish you can rely on.

Budget, Approvals and Next Steps With HICL Builders

Budget is shaped by the scope. Key cost drivers include layout changes, kitchen and bathroom specification, rewiring, bespoke joinery, and access constraints. Programme matters too: a sensible sequence is survey, design and selections, procurement, build, snagging, and handover, with lead times for kitchens, tiles, and flooring agreed early.

Approvals can apply in flats and blocks, including leasehold or freeholder consent, building rules, and building control where required. We help you plan these steps so your apartment renovation London 2026 project feels predictable and well managed.

When you are ready, book a refurbishment consultation and site survey with HICL Builders. You will receive a clear, no obligation quote, a detailed plan of works, and a schedule you can track. All structural work comes with a five year guarantee, and we can also help you benefit from trade discounts through our supplier network.

Get a free quote: Email office@hiclbuilders.com

FAQs

How much does a full flat refurbishment cost in London in 2026?

Costs vary by size, condition, access, and specification. As a broad guide, full renovations are often discussed in cost per square metre ranges, with higher specifications and more complex works costing more. A standard flat renovation budget will look different again depending on what is included and the level of finish.

In practical terms, many homeowners think in three levels:

• Light package, mainly finishes with minimal services changes
  
  
• Mid spec package, kitchen and bathroom plus targeted upgrades
  
  
• Full refurbishment package, layout changes plus electrics and plumbing upgrades and higher end finishes
  
  

HICL provides a detailed proposal after a site survey and scope confirmation so you can make decisions with clarity, not guesswork.

How disruptive is a full refurbishment in a London block?

Expect a noisy strip out phase, scheduled deliveries, and occasional short service shut offs. The difference is how it is managed. HICL plans protection, dust control, working hours, and weekly sequencing so you always know what is happening next. A single coordinated programme is typically less disruptive than repeated stop start works spread over months.

Can HICL manage everything from planning to handover?

Yes. We coordinate design support, procurement, qualified trades, and project management as one team, which improves speed, accountability, and finish quality. If you are planning a whole home refurbishment London project or a full flat refurbishment in 2026, get in touch for a consultation and a clear route from survey to handover.

Get a free quote: Email office@hiclbuilders.com