How much does a apartment renovation cost in 2027 — price list per m² by scope

The question "how much does an apartment renovation cost" only makes sense with one clarification: what is the scope of work. The same area can cost £9,000 or £50,000 — the difference is not in the floor space, but in whether you are replacing installations and the layout of the rooms.

Three levels of renovation — three price tiers

• Refreshing (painting, sanding or new flooring, door replacement, minor repairs): £140–£240/m²
• Standard renovation (bathroom and kitchen from scratch, selective electrical and plumbing work, new floors): £360–£560/m²
• Turnkey renovation (new installations, moving walls, full finishing with built-in furniture): £640–£1,000/m²

The upper price ranges apply to large cities and old tenement houses, where just leveling the walls and replacing vertical plumbing stacks consumes several weeks.

What makes up the price per m²

1. Labor — 40–55% of the budget. This is the item you negotiate most often, but it is not what determines the success of the renovation.
2. Materials — 35–45%. Tiles, paints, fixtures, doors, panels. This is where you save consciously, not by accident.
3. Equipment, debris removal, scaffolding — 5–10%. The most frequently overlooked item, which then "unexpectedly" increases the invoice.
4. 10% Reserve. Not just a decoration for the cost estimate — a buffer for what comes to light after stripping the plaster.

Sample budgets

• 40 m² apartment, refreshed for rental: £6,000–£9,000 (approx. 3–4 weeks)
• 50 m² apartment, standard renovation: £19,000–£28,000 (6–9 weeks)
• 70 m² apartment, turnkey with new bathroom and kitchen: £46,000–£66,000 (10–14 weeks)

Additionally, there is furniture and equipment — the kitchen and appliances are usually a separate £4,000–£12,000, and it is not worth including them in the contractor's estimate because they obscure the actual labor costs.

Where it is easiest to lose money

• Lack of a line-item cost estimate. The team provides one lump sum, and with the first change in scope, it turns out that "that was not included in the price."
• Purchasing materials without a plan. Three deliveries of the same paint in different shades is not bad luck; it is a lack of a shopping list.
• Changes during the process. Every change after the work begins costs 2–3 times more than the same decision made before starting.
• Lack of a schedule and contractual penalties. A renovation without a deadline in the contract always drags on.

How to compare offers so you don't overpay

Three quotes for the same, precisely described scope are the absolute minimum. The price gap between contractors can reach 30% — and the cheapest is not always the best, because the difference often lies in what is not included in the offer.

Describe the scope, floor space, and deadline in one place — post your renovation job and compare offers from companies in your city. If you don't know where to start, AI valuation will prepare a preliminary cost breakdown in a few minutes.