A kitchen refurbishment is one of the most impactful investments you can make in a residential property. Kitchens are central to how people live and how they perceive a property's quality. A dated or poorly functional kitchen detracts from rental and sale value; a modern, well-designed kitchen adds premium appeal. This guide walks through how to plan a kitchen refurbishment and budget realistically for the South East London and Kent market.
Planning Your Kitchen Refurbishment
Define the Scope
Kitchen refurbishments range from cosmetic refreshes to complete structural alterations. Defining your scope before engaging contractors prevents scope creep and budget overruns.
Cosmetic refresh (lowest cost): New cabinet doors and drawer fronts on existing carcasses, new worktop, new appliances, repaint or retile splash areas. This is particularly popular for rental properties where the carcasses are sound but the kitchen looks dated.
Full replacement (standard): Remove everything back to bare walls and floor, install new carcasses, worktops, sink, and appliances. Update plumbing and electrics as needed. This is the most common scope for comprehensive refurbishment.
Structural reconfiguration: Moving walls, changing kitchen layout significantly, adding an extension, or combining kitchen and dining space. This requires planning and building regulation considerations and is substantially more expensive.
Layout and Design
For rental properties, practical and durable tends to outperform stylish and premium. For owner-occupied properties, personal preference plays a much larger role.
When considering layout, the classic "kitchen triangle" principle — positioning sink, hob, and fridge in a triangular arrangement that minimises movement during cooking — remains a sound design guide.
Key layout considerations:
- •Maximise storage — buyers and tenants consistently cite storage as a priority
- •Ensure adequate worktop space on both sides of the hob and sink
- •Plan for extractor hood above the hob with adequate clearance (typically 65-75cm above an electric hob, 75cm above gas)
- •Allow adequate clearance in front of appliances for comfortable use (minimum 1000mm in front of fridge, dishwasher, oven)
Choosing Kitchen Units
The range of kitchen unit quality and price is enormous. The key distinction for rental properties versus owner-occupied:
Rental properties: Durability and ease of replacement matter most. Solid box/carcass construction with foil-wrapped or vinyl-wrapped doors. Ranges from flat-pack to semi-assembled. Quality ranges: Howdens Joinery, Magnet Trade, Wickes Trade.
Owner-occupied: Greater investment in design, finish, and quality pays off in satisfaction and sale value. Rigid carcass, soft-close hinges throughout, quality door fronts. Budget ranges from B&Q premium through to Wren, Benchmarx, or bespoke cabinetry.
Worktops
Worktops are one of the most noticeable elements of any kitchen:
- •**Laminate:** £30-80/m. Most common in rental properties. Practical and wide choice of designs. Vulnerable to heat and edge water ingress if poorly installed.
- •**Solid wood:** £80-200/m. Warm appearance; requires annual oiling to maintain. Not ideal for very wet conditions.
- •**Quartz composite:** £200-400/m. Extremely durable, heat and scratch resistant. Very popular in mid-range to premium installations.
- •**Granite:** £200-500/m. Natural stone, extremely durable. Each slab is unique. Heavy — requires adequate cabinet support.
- •**Dekton/Silestone:** £300-600/m. Ultra-compact surfaces; extremely durable, large format slabs possible.
Realistic Cost Estimates (Dartford/SE London, 2024)
Small Kitchen (Under 8m²)
- •Cosmetic refresh (doors, worktop, appliances): £1,500 – £3,500
- •Full replacement, mid-range spec: £5,000 – £9,000
- •Full replacement, quality spec: £10,000 – £16,000
Medium Kitchen (8-15m²)
- •Cosmetic refresh: £2,500 – £5,000
- •Full replacement, mid-range: £8,000 – £15,000
- •Full replacement, quality spec: £15,000 – £25,000
Large Kitchen/Kitchen-Diner (15m²+)
- •Full replacement, mid-range: £12,000 – £20,000
- •Full replacement, quality spec: £20,000 – £40,000+
These figures include units, worktops, sink and taps, installation, tiling, basic appliances, plastering, and decoration. They exclude structural works, significant plumbing or electrical upgrades, and premium appliances.
Trades Involved in a Kitchen Refurbishment
A kitchen project typically involves:
- •**Kitchen fitter:** Installs carcasses, doors, worktops
- •**Plumber:** Relocates or connects sink, dishwasher, washing machine
- •**Electrician:** Adds sockets, connects electric oven, installs extractor
- •**Tiler:** Tiles splash back
- •**Plasterer:** Repairs walls after old kitchen removed
- •**Decorator:** Paints ceiling and any non-tiled areas
Coordinating multiple trades — and ensuring they work in the right sequence — is a significant project management task. A single contract kitchen company that employs or coordinates all trades is often preferable to hiring each trade separately.
Timeline
A standard kitchen refurbishment typically takes 7-14 working days from strip-out to completion. The kitchen will be unusable during this time. For rental properties, timing the refurbishment during a void period is strongly preferable.
Key sequence: 1. Strip out 2. Any structural/preparation work 3. First fix plumbing and electrics 4. Plastering 5. Kitchen fitting (carcasses) 6. Tiling 7. Worktop fitting (often last as it is sized to suit installed carcasses) 8. Second fix plumbing (sink, appliances) and electrics 9. Decoration
Choosing the Right Contractor
For kitchen refurbishments, look for:
- •A single contractor who manages all trades (reduces coordination headaches and accountability gaps)
- •Demonstrated portfolio of similar work
- •Clear, detailed written quote specifying exactly what is and isn't included
- •References from previous customers
- •Appropriate insurance
- •VAT registration (for commercial projects where you can reclaim VAT)
Premier Property Solutions manages kitchen refurbishments end-to-end across Dartford, Kent, and South East London. From design and specification through to handover, we coordinate every trade and keep projects on schedule. Call 01322 251520 for a free consultation and quote.
Premier Property Solutions
Property maintenance specialists serving Dartford, Kent and South East London since 1996.