Refurb case study - Middlesbrough

Here's what a full refresh looks like at a property on Richmond Court in Middlesbrough. The video below walks through the living room, kitchen, bathroom and both bedrooms - every one, before and after.

Watch the full refurb walkthrough here.

But there's more to this one than paint and carpet. While the property stood empty between tenancies, a car crashed into the house, damaging a section of structural brickwork. The combi boiler also went missing, and doors and windows had to be replaced throughout. What started as one job became two: a routine refresh, and a separate insurance claim to put right.

🔧 The refurb

Gutters, drains, fencing and gardens were tidied, sockets rewired, and a new extractor and cooker hood fitted, alongside plastering, meter top-ups and updated heating controls. The bigger spend went on finishing: new kitchen units, worktop and splashback tiles, new doors throughout, a repaired banister, a bathroom refresh, a full repaint with a feature wall, and new carpet, vinyl and a builders clean.

Refurb total: £16,555

🚨 The insurance claim

New UPVC doors were fitted front and back, five windows reglazed, and the structural brickwork rebuilt after the car crash. Separately, a new 25kW combi boiler was installed after the original went missing, along with new oak-effect flooring, re-hinged kitchen units, a new bathroom sink, new stairs carpet, and waste removal.

Most refurbs don't come with a separate claim attached, but this one's a reminder of what can happen when a property sits empty. Worth checking that your buildings insurance covers unoccupied periods, and letting your insurer know as soon as a property goes empty.

Dealing with a refurb, a claim, or both? Reach out to landlords@nguhomes.co.uk, and we'll walk your property with you.