When the pandemic hit and I had to work from home, I ran into a serious problem: there was not enough space to set up an office and work without distractions.
The only area with potential was my basement, but it was a mess. Poor lighting, poor ventilation, and loads of lighting storage boxes I hadn’t touched in years.
As much as I wanted to tackle it myself, I knew I was out of my depth. I needed professionals who understood how to deal with low ceilings, moisture issues, and insulation.
That kicked off a long search for basement renovation companies in London—not general contractors doing one-off jobs but teams with a track record of successful renovations.
After comparing portfolios, reviews, and services, I found a handful that truly stood out. Here are the ones worth knowing!
How much does a basement renovation cost in London?
Basement renovation in London can cost anywhere from £140,000 to over £350,000, depending on the scope and complexity of the project. Factors such as excavation, waterproofing, and the chosen design can impact the overall cost.
How I chose the best basement renovation services in London
- Service quality: I looked for companies that have numerous basement conversion projects, with almost all clients being satisfied with the results and no reported issues months after.
- Cost-effectiveness: I selected businesses that deliver great results while minimising the overall cost without compromising the project.
- Customer service quality: I chose companies that respond to email queries within the day they are submitted and always treat their clients with utmost respect.
- Range of services offered: I opted for businesses that provide other construction services aside from basement renovation, such as kitchen, loft, and bathroom renovation.
1. House Renovation London
Address: 155 North End Rd
Phone: +44 20 3865 7983
Business hours:
- Mon-Fri: 8 AM – 5 PM
House Renovation London excels at renovating both basement and cellar structures. I really like that they have a design team in-house that can draw plans for you if you don’t have one yet.
I particularly love their attention to interior design. They offer FF&E (furniture, fixtures, and equipment) packages and full architectural packages, so your finished basement doesn’t just function well but also looks great.
I also appreciate their private client services. These services aim to provide their clients with aftercare solutions. The service can range from simple maintenance to complete service, including managing third-party contracts.
While their basement work is the highlight, it’s worth noting that they also offer extensive house construction services. They can renovate your bedroom and kitchen, remodel your bathroom, and even take care of your painting needs.
That said, House Renovation London only takes residential property projects. This means you can’t hire them for your warehouse basement.
An absolute pleasure working with them
“I bought a tiny mews house which was dark and in need of much renovation and love. Working in co-operation with House Renovation London we completely re-designed and reengineered the interior of the house. Stripping it down to concrete and rebuilding everything. The team was supportive, helpful, kind, on time, clean and very professional throughout. The team did the drawings, sourced the materials, did the build out and kept me informed throughout the build. Working with Gjon and his guys was an absolute pleasure and I would recommend them to anyone in need of a professional team in Central London.”
-Christopher de Gruben, Google Review
They were very friendly and knowledgeable
“I had House Renovation London renovate my flat in March 2020. They did a splendid job insuring every detail was looked into. This was a full refurbishment project and the guys delivered this in record time. The cost was also at least a quarter less than the other quotes so obviously I was very happy to have my flat refurbished by them. The team were friendly and very knowledgeable about their profession and very passionate about delivering the best quality of work. As soon as I am ready to refurbish my next property I will definitely ask them to take on the project.”
-Al Brit, Google Review
2. MBT Group Ltd
Address: 124-128 City Rd
Phone: +44 20 8079 0225
Business hours:
- Mon-Fri: 8 AM – 6 PM
- Sat: 8 AM – 2 PM
It’s a green flag for me that MBT Group serves numerous towns across London. Some London boroughs where they provide services are Hackney, Greenwich, and Haringey.
When it comes to basement renovation, they offer a wide range of conversion services. They can do a retrofit basement conversion, basement excavation, and more.
What’s great is that they can install an under-garden basement. This allows you to maximise your garden space and gives additional below-ground property if you already have a house basement.
Another great thing is that they can also install a sub-basement. Imagine having another basement beneath your already existing basement. Aside from additional space, it effectively strengthens your house’s stability.
However, I noticed that they don’t have basement renovation snaps in their extensive portfolio gallery. This can leave doubts about whether they’re experienced in taking on such a project.
Exceptional team
“Sandel and his team are exceptional. They are skilled, organized, and responsible. They did a fantastic job on our extension, delivering high-quality workmanship on time and within budget. They were also very understanding and flexible in dealing with unexpected issues, providing effective solutions quickly. Their professionalism and dedication made the entire process smooth and stress-free. Even though the project is finished, I can still rely on them to solve any problems that may arise. I can highly recommend Sandel and his team for any building project”
-santosh adhikari, Google Review
I highly recommend them
“Sandel and his team helped us to renovate our flat back in May. Their expertise and advice were invaluable in helping us achieve our design goals. The team demonstrated a good and open attitude towards our requests, and their transparency regarding project costs and ability to stick to requested timeline was greatly appreciated. I highly recommend Sandel and his team for their professional approach and commitment to delivering exceptional results. We will happily use them again in the future.”
-ho lam, Google Review
3. Renovations Team Ltd
Address: 517 Old York Rd
Phone: +44 20 8687 1919
Business hours:
- Mon-Fri: 9 AM – 6 PM
I appreciate the Renovations Team’s complete basement conversion service. They can manage your basement renovation from the pre-construction to the post-construction phase.
I also appreciate their versatility. Unlike other firms that stick to residential work, the team also take on commercial projects. This means you can hire them for your home and warehouse basement makeover.
I also love their flexibility when it comes to what your basement can become. They can install a wide range of basement structures, from gyms and cinemas to more ambitious additions like swimming pools!
Another feature that sets them apart is they’re the only company on my list that offers glazing services. They can install glass on your windows, doors, and even on your walls. That opens up exciting possibilities for those who want a more modern finish.
The only disadvantage the Renovations Team has compared to other companies is that they are new in the industry. They’ve only been in this business for just a couple of years, so the experience is certainly not as extensive as the others.
They were brilliant
“Highly recommended. The guys were brilliant. A fabulous renovation/conversion at the rear of our house has made the world of difference. The rear of the house gets so much more light, and the transformation of the rear loft space into a boiler house and terrace makes for a great escape among the rooftops. The team were easy to work with, friendly and professional throughout and great communications. Tomasz holds it all together with gusto, enthusiasm and an attention to detail (and our own ideas and preferences) which we really appreciated. Would I work with them again – definitely.”
-Tim Allcock, Google Review
The process was very efficient
“I contacted Renovations to do a small commercial renovation for me. The process was very efficient. Tom viewed the premises and I detailed the scope I wanted, he then produced a quote and talked me though how the process would work. They started promptly, we had a couple of unforeseen delays along the way but the job was finished and the quality of the workmanship was good and the price was as we had agreed. I would use them again and recommend them.”
-Steve Hines, Google Review
4. Basement Masters
Address: Gor-Ray House, 758 Great Cambridge Rd
Phone: +44 20 3535 6655 and +44 20 8443 7099
Business hours:
- Mon-Sun: 9 AM – 5 PM
I was very impressed when I discovered that Basement Masters has been in the industry for over two decades. I’m a firm believer that a business’s longevity symbolises its exceptional service as no business would last that long if the service isn’t great.
They’re very experienced in basement construction projects. In fact, all their services revolve around basements. Their services include new-build, retrofit basement construction, basement waterproofing, and underpinning.
I also love their impressive case studies. The studies show how critical they are in deciding what type of basement construction a client needs when the client hasn’t decided yet.
Last but not least, I appreciate that they collaborate with the council on your behalf. This means you will not carry the stress of handling paperwork.
The only negative thing I can think of about them is their limited service outside the basement services. This is not a dealbreaker, though, especially if you’re only looking for a basement renovation.
They did an excellent job
“Eric, Marian, Ricardo and the team did a fantastic job of converting our basement to create 2 extra bedrooms and a bathroom. The team were hard working and efficient and finished the conversion ahead of the completion date. Ricardo did an excellent job of the paperwork side of things ie planning permission, communications etc and the job was signed off with no problems at all. I would have no hesitation in recommending Basement Consultants Ltd if you are thinking about having your basement converted.”
-maggie chapman, Google Review
Very experienced team
“Basement Masters Ltd were employed to construct the basement for a new build project. They were very helpful and supportive from the start, not backing out of any tedious tasks they completed the job within the agreed time and to a very high standard. They consist of a very experienced team and this has given us comfort to put them forward for other projects alike. From a professional I would highly recommend them.”
-Ayoub Buhdeima, Google Review
5. APT Renovation
Address: 7 Lavender Hill
Phone: +44 20 7223 6417
Business hours:
- Mon-Fri: 8 AM – 5 PM
APT Renovation’s comparatively wide service area is a plus for me. They provide services to the whole of the Southwest London area.
I was amazed by the fact that it’s a family-owned business. This kind of business ownership usually means they don’t follow company protocols, allowing them to give personalised service to each client.
For basement renovation, I love the great selection of basement services they provide. Some of the things they can do in your basement are turn it into a recreational room, a guest room, or a full house footprint basement.
What’s even better is they use a basement tanking waterproofing technique on their basement projects. This technique is known to be really effective in blocking water from entering the basement, which is very important considering how rainy London can get.
That said, they have a relatively small team when compared to the other companies on this list. This might affect their availability, so reach out early if you’re planning to get your basement renovated.
Very pleased with their work
“We are very pleased with the work that APT undertook on our home. We engaged APT for the design and build service and we have been very satisfied with the work from start to finish. As this was our first building project we relied a lot on our building manager, Kole, who kept us abreast of all stages of the build and was always available to meet or answer our many queries. The support from Kylie in the office was also exceptional and very professional. We would recommend APT.”
-Hilary Buchanan, Google Review
The end product is great
“We are very pleased with the work APT undertook on our home extension. The end product is great, the team is always courteous, and the company clearly has integrity in its conduct. Kol and team treated our home with respect throughout, which is not always the case with other building companies. Lastly, from initial estimate to final bill was a difference within the usual contingency limits and it was always communicated about.”
-Constantin Mayer, Google Review
