What is a house renovation?

A house renovation brings an older or tired home up to date. It can include rewiring, a new heating system, replastering, new floors, windows, kitchens and bathrooms, and changes to the layout. A full renovation is often combined with an extension or loft conversion.
How much does a house renovation cost in Devon?
In Devon, a house renovation typically costs £900–£1,850 per m² for a medium to full renovation, including VAT at 20% (5% may apply to homes empty for two years or more). For a typical 90 m² project that is roughly £81,000–£166,500. Prices in the South West sit near the national average for this kind of work, and the range for Devon reflects that. Design, structural calculations and council fees are extra.
| Size or type | Guide range |
|---|---|
| Smaller project (63 m²) | £56,500–£116,500 |
| Typical project (90 m²) | £81,000–£166,500 |
| Larger project (126 m²) | £113,500–£233,000 |
| Rate per m² | £900–£1,850 |
What moves the price most:
- Structural and damp repairs
- Extent of rewiring and replumbing
- Whether you live in during the work
- Finishes
Use the guide price tool to see how size and specification change the figure, then ask for a written, itemised quote.
Do you need planning permission for a house renovation in Devon?
Approvals for a house renovation in Devon follow the rules for England. In England internal renovation usually does not need planning permission unless the house is listed, when listed building consent covers internal work too. Notifiable work such as rewiring, structural changes, new windows and heating must meet building regulations.
Where work involves a shared wall, building on the boundary, or digging foundations within 3 metres of a neighbour’s building and deeper than its foundations (or within 6 metres for deeper work), the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies and notices must be served before work starts.
If the answer is not clear-cut, we can apply for formal confirmation before you commit to the build.
What we handle
The work we manage on a house renovation:
- Plastering and boarding
- Kitchens and bathrooms
- Rewiring and heating upgrades
- Building control for notifiable work
- Condition survey and scope of works
- Decoration
How long does it take?
Allow 8 to 20 weeks on site depending on scope. Design and approvals come first and typically take 6 to 12 weeks, depending on the approval route.
Building in Devon
The South West mixes stone and render cottages with post-war and newer estates, and local materials matter more here when matching an extension.
Towns we cover in Devon include Plymouth, Exeter, Paignton, Torquay, Newton Abbot and Exmouth.
How it works
- 01
Free visit
We look at the property, talk through what you want and measure up. There is no charge and no obligation.
- 02
Design and fixed quote
Drawings, structural calculations and an itemised, fixed price for the agreed specification.
- 03
Approvals
Planning or permitted development confirmation, building regulations and any party wall matters.
- 04
Build and handover
Work follows the agreed programme, with inspections along the way and a completion certificate at the end.
Questions about house renovations in Devon
Do I need planning permission to renovate?
Internal work usually does not need planning permission unless the house is listed. External changes may.
How much does a house renovation cost in Devon?
In Devon, a house renovation typically costs £900–£1,850 per m² for a medium to full renovation, including VAT at 20% (5% may apply to homes empty for two years or more). A typical 90 m² project comes to roughly £81,000–£166,500. Your fixed price depends on the survey and drawings.
How long does a full renovation take?
Typically 8 to 20 weeks on site depending on the size of the house and scope.
Do you renovate listed buildings?
Yes, with listed building consent and appropriate materials.
Do you build house renovations in Devon?
Yes. We build house renovations across Devon, including postcodes DT7, EX1, EX10, EX11 and EX12. Every project starts with a free home visit.
