House Refurbishment in Kensington & Chelsea | RCB Design & Build
Full house refurbishments are our second-largest workload across Kensington & Chelsea — period-property buyers typically take possession then refurbish before moving in. RCB Design & Build delivers house refurbishment projects right across Kensington & Chelsea (SW3) from our Dartford base — typically on site within 48 hours of enquiry, with a fixed written quotation in 5 working days. Our typical house refurbishment project in Kensington & Chelsea costs between £84,000 and £350,000 in 2026, with most Georgian townhouses and Stucco-fronted Victorian terraces landing around £217,000. We are FMB, TrustMark, Checkatrade and TrustATrader accredited and operate as a Principal Contractor under CDM 2015.
Prime-central refurbs, heritage restoration and amenity-grade structural work. Premium finishes are standard. Working out of Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea's area, we know the planners, the local building inspectors, and the named conservation officers — that personal relationship cuts weeks off the consenting timeline. Our typical Kensington & Chelsea project is on Georgian townhouses within easy reach of Sloane Square or the King's Road, and we work with a small panel of trusted London-area subcontractors we have used for years.
What's included in our house refurbishment price
Strip-out, structural alterations, full first-fix M&E (rewire, replumb, central heating), insulation upgrade where accessible, plasterboard and skim throughout, joinery, decoration. Second-fix kitchen/bathroom and finishes are client-supplied within agreed allowances. Our written quotation covers labour, first-fix materials, project management, scaffolding, skips, Building Control fees and statutory inspections. Second-fix materials (kitchens, bathrooms, flooring, tiles, paint, sanitaryware) are supplied by the client as a deliberate cost-control measure — this typically saves homeowners £17,360–£32,550 in trade markup. We exclude planning fees, party-wall surveyor fees and structural engineer drawings, which we coordinate at cost.
Kensington & Chelsea planning, party walls and Building Regs
RBKC operates the strictest planning regime in the UK. Basement Policy CL7 caps subterranean schemes; LBC needed for most heritage homes. Always survey for asbestos (pre-2000 housing), check joist depths before opening floors, and test the electrical earthing system before any rewire price is committed. Note that Kensington & Chelsea has multiple conservation areas — design must match prevailing materials, roof shape and fenestration. Party Wall Awards are typically needed for any excavation within 3 metres of a shared wall — we coordinate the surveyor and serve notices. Building Control is lodged at the start, with inspections at foundation, damp-course, pre-plaster and completion stages.
Timeline and process for Kensington & Chelsea projects
Full refurbs run 14–22 weeks on site for a typical 100–140 m² mid-terrace. Mid-renovation site visits happen weekly and we send a written report every Friday. We hold a weekly call with the client throughout, send a written progress report with photos every Friday, and the lead PM is always reachable on WhatsApp. From SW3 postcodes we can have someone on site within 48 hours of a phone call.
Guarantees and after-care
Every project we deliver in Kensington & Chelsea is backed by a 12-month workmanship guarantee. Where we install manufacturer-warranted systems (roofing membranes, windows, MVHR), the manufacturer warranty (typically 10–25 years) runs alongside. As an FMB member we can also arrange an FMB-backed 2-year insurance warranty on qualifying Kensington & Chelsea schemes — worth considering for any project above £50,000.
House Refurbishment cost in Kensington & Chelsea — 2026 price guide
Project size
From
To
Flat refurb (≤60 m²)
£67,000
£84,000
Two-bed terrace (60–90 m²)
£84,000
£109,000
Three-bed (90–130 m²)
£101,000
£134,000
Four-bed+ (130 m²+)
£118,000
£160,000
Indicative Kensington & Chelsea (SW3) ranges for 2026. A site visit firms the figure to +/-5%.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a house refurbishment cost in Kensington & Chelsea in 2026?
Typical Kensington & Chelsea pricing ranges from £84,000 to £350,000 depending on size, finish and site complexity. Kensington & Chelsea sits in the upper-tier London market so labour rates run 15–25% above outer-borough averages. A free site visit firms the number up to ±5%.
How long will a house refurbishment take in Kensington & Chelsea?
Allow 6–12 weeks of design, planning and procurement before work starts, then a project-dependent build phase. Full refurbs run 14–22 weeks on site for a typical 100–140 m² mid-terrace. Mid-renovation site visits happen weekly and we send a written report every Friday. We share a Gantt-style schedule with every quotation.
How long does a full house refurb take in Kensington & Chelsea?
Plan on 14–22 weeks on site for a typical mid-terrace, plus 6–8 weeks of design and procurement before mobilisation. Listed buildings and conservation areas can add 6–12 weeks of consenting on top.
Which areas of Kensington & Chelsea do you cover?
We cover all of SW3 and the surrounding London postcodes from our Dartford base. Recent projects sit close to Sloane Square and the King's Road. Anywhere within 45 minutes of Dartford is comfortably inside our core delivery zone.
Is RCB insured?
Yes — we hold £5 million Public Liability, £10 million Employer's Liability, full Contract Works insurance and Professional Indemnity. Certificates are provided with every quotation.
How do I get a quote?
Use the free instant calculator at /quote for a 60-second ballpark, configure your project in detail at /configure, or call +44 7359 872594. We respond to every enquiry within 4 working hours.