Property Renovation in Clapham
Full house refurbishments and flat renovations for Clapham's Victorian terraces, period conversions, and mansion flats. One team handles everything, from strip-out to snagging, so you don't spend six months chasing electricians, plumbers, and plasterers separately.
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Renovations that work for how Clapham houses actually live
Clapham’s housing stock looks great from the outside. Georgian townhouses around the Common, Victorian terraces running off Abbeville Road, Edwardian semis near Clapham South. Behind those period facades, though, a lot of these houses haven’t been properly updated since the 1980s or 1990s. Some not since the 1970s.
The kitchens are too small for the way families use them now. Bathrooms still have avocado suites or tired white boxes from a cheap refit by a previous owner. Layouts feel disconnected because the houses were designed for a time when you had a separate room for everything.
A proper property refurbishment changes how your house works. Knock through the ground floor to create open-plan living. Rewire and replumb so everything meets current standards. Fit a new kitchen and bathrooms, replaster, lay new floors, decorate throughout. When it’s done, you have a house that feels completely different without giving up the period features that made you buy it in the first place.
We’ve renovated properties across Clapham for years. The big terraces near the Common, period conversions along Clapham Manor Street, flats around Clapham North, family homes in Abbeville Village. Every property type in this area has its quirks, and we know what to expect before we start.
What we renovate
Full House Renovations
Strip a house back to the shell and rebuild it properly. New electrics, new plumbing, new heating, plastering, flooring, kitchens, bathrooms, decorating. We coordinate every trade and manage the whole project so you deal with one company and get one guarantee covering all the work. This is the most common type of house refurbishment we do in Clapham, and the one where proper coordination matters most.
Flat Refurbishments
Clapham has a lot of Victorian and Edwardian conversions where the flats haven’t been updated since they were split. We renovate flats from strip-out to handover, including all the structural and services work that gets missed when people try to do rooms piecemeal. If you need freeholder consent, we can advise on what’s needed. A complete flat refurbishment typically transforms these spaces in ways that room-by-room updates never quite manage.
Period Property Restoration
Most houses in Clapham were built between 1840 and 1910. They have original fireplaces, cornicing, ceiling roses, stained glass, and timber floors worth preserving. We restore these features where possible while upgrading the house to modern standards. The goal is a home that respects what was there before without pretending you still need a scullery.
Layout Reconfigurations
The classic Clapham Victorian terrace has a front reception, a back reception, and a kitchen in a rear addition. That layout doesn’t work for most families now. We remove internal walls, install structural steel, and reconfigure spaces to create the open-plan ground floor and proper family kitchen that the house was always missing.
New Purchase Renovations
Bought a house on Clapham Common West Side or a flat near the Old Town that needs work before you move in? We can survey the property before completion, provide a detailed scope and fixed-price quote, and have the renovation planned so work starts soon after you get the keys. This is often the most cost-effective approach because we can work faster without anyone living on site.
Loft & Basement Conversions
Add living space without extending your footprint. Clapham’s Victorian houses often have generous roof spaces and basements that can be converted into bedrooms, offices, or playrooms. We handle structural design, Building Control applications, and all construction. Party wall agreements with neighbours are part of what we manage for you.
"We bought a run-down Victorian terrace near Clapham Common and needed pretty much everything done. Joel and the team stripped it back, rewired, replumbed, new kitchen, two new bathrooms, plastered and decorated throughout. It took about fourteen weeks and they were on site every day. The house is unrecognisable. Genuinely couldn't have asked for a better experience."
Property renovation costs in Clapham
Honest pricing so you can plan properly before we visit. These are typical ranges for Clapham properties. Your actual quote depends on the condition of the property, the specification you want, and how much structural work is needed.
| Project Type | Typical Price Range |
|---|---|
|
One-bedroom flat refurbishment |
£25,000 – £50,000 |
|
Two-bedroom flat refurbishment |
£40,000 – £80,000 |
|
three-bedroom house renovation |
£80,000 – £150,000 |
|
Full house renovation (4+ bed) |
£120,000 – £250,000 |
|
Layout reconfiguration |
£15,000-£40,000 |
|
Loft conversion |
£45,000-£75,000 |
What’s included: Demolition, structural work, rewiring, replumbing, plastering, flooring, decoration, and project management. Kitchen units, bathroom sanitaryware, tiles, and fixtures are typically additional because most clients want to choose these themselves. We can source them for you if you prefer.
How a renovation works with us
From first conversation to handing you the keys, here’s the process.
What to look for in a renovation contractor
Certified electrical work (NICEIC)
Any renovation involving electrical work (which is almost all of them) should be done by NICEIC-approved electricians. This means the work is inspected and certified to BS 7671 standards. You receive an Electrical Installation Certificate on completion, which you’ll need if you ever sell the property or remortgage.
Registered window & door installation (FENSA)
If your renovation includes new windows or doors, FENSA registration means the installer self-certifies compliance with Building Regulations. Without this, you need to get separate Building Control approval, which costs more and takes longer.
Health & safety accreditation (CHAS)
CHAS accreditation proves the contractor has been independently assessed for health and safety. For renovation work where multiple trades are on site and the property may be partially occupied, this matters more than people realise.
Full public liability insurance
We carry £1 million public liability cover. For property refurbishment work in Clapham, where you’re often working on houses worth £1 million or more, adequate insurance is not optional. Ask any contractor you’re considering what level of cover they hold.
Building Control sign-off
Structural alterations, rewiring, replumbing, and changes to fire escape routes all need Building Control approval. We manage the application process, schedule inspections at the right stages, and make sure you get your completion certificate at the end.
Fixed-price contracts
We quote a fixed price for a defined scope of work. If we’ve quoted it, that’s what you pay. If something genuinely changes because of what we find once we open up the building, we agree variations in writing before doing the work. No surprises on the final invoice.
Common questions about property renovation in Clapham
It depends on the size and condition of the property. A three-bed Victorian terrace needing full renovation (rewire, replumb, new kitchen and bathrooms, plastering, flooring, decorating) typically costs £80,000 to £150,000. Larger houses or higher specifications push that up. We provide a detailed, itemised quote after a site survey so you know the exact cost before committing.
A two-bed flat usually takes 6 to 10 weeks. A three-bed house needing full renovation is typically 12 to 18 weeks. Larger projects or houses needing extensive structural work can take longer. We provide a week-by-week programme at the quote stage and keep you updated throughout.
Most internal renovation work doesn’t need planning permission. Structural changes like removing load-bearing walls need Building Regulations approval, which we handle. If your property is in a conservation area (parts of Clapham around the Common and Old Town are), there may be restrictions on external changes. We advise on this during the initial survey.
For partial renovations, usually yes. We plan the work to maintain access to at least one bathroom and the kitchen for as long as possible. For full strip-out renovations, it’s honestly more practical to move out. The work goes faster, it’s less disruptive for you, and the finish is better because we can work in every room simultaneously.
Older Clapham houses often have surprises. Asbestos in old Artex or floor tiles. Rotten joists hidden under flooring. Inadequate foundations. Lead pipes. We flag anything we find immediately, explain the options, and agree any additional work in writing before proceeding. We never just add costs to the final bill without discussing them first.
If you own a leasehold flat, your lease almost certainly requires consent for structural alterations. This might include moving walls, changing plumbing routes, or replacing floors. We can advise on what typically needs consent and help you prepare the application, though you may need a solicitor for the formal process.
We’re based in Anerley, South East London, and work across Clapham (SW4, SW11, SW12), Battersea, Balham, Putney, Dulwich, Crystal Palace, Bromley, Greenwich, and surrounding areas.
Working in Clapham
Clapham is a mix of everything. Grand Georgian houses around the Common with price tags well into the millions. Victorian terraces on the residential streets off Abbeville Road and near Clapham South. Edwardian properties in the Nightingale Triangle (technically Balham, but Clapham agents claim it). Period conversions everywhere. Purpose-built flats from the 1930s onwards.
Most of the renovation work we do here is on Victorian terraces. These are typically three or four storeys, with the classic layout of two reception rooms, a narrow kitchen in a rear addition, and bedrooms upstairs. The houses were well built, but the layouts don’t work for modern families. Downstairs needs opening up. Kitchens need extending or reconfiguring. Bathrooms need proper waterproofing, not the tile-on-plasterboard approach that previous owners often went with.
Clapham also has a lot of flat conversions where Victorian houses have been split into two or three flats. These are often where the biggest renovation opportunities are. The conversions were done decades ago, often to a basic standard, and the flats need proper attention: rewiring, replumbing, upgraded kitchens and bathrooms, and sometimes reconfigured layouts to make better use of the space.
Parking is tight in most of Clapham. We sort out permits where needed and plan material deliveries carefully to minimise disruption. For skip placement, we apply for road licenses from Lambeth or Wandsworth council (Clapham falls across both boroughs, depending on the street) in advance so there are no delays.
Renovation services by area
Bromley
Croydon
Lewisham
Greenwich
Dulwich
Crystal Palace
Forest Hill
Sydenham
Related services
Property renovation often includes these as part of the project, or they can be booked separately.
Kitchen Extensions
If your renovation includes extending the kitchen, we handle planning permission, structural work, Building Control and all finishing. Single-storey rear extensions, side returns and wraparounds. → View kitchen extension services
Bathroom Fitting
Full bathroom renovations from strip-out to handover. Also en-suite installations, wet rooms and cloakroom additions. Usually included as part of a wider property refurbishment. → View bathroom fitting services
Ready to discuss your renovation?
Get a free quote with no obligation. We’ll visit your property, discuss what you need, and provide a detailed proposal with clear pricing.