{"id":10689,"date":"2026-05-02T00:02:43","date_gmt":"2026-05-02T00:02:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/second-home.uk\/?p=10689"},"modified":"2026-05-02T00:02:43","modified_gmt":"2026-05-02T00:02:43","slug":"medway-council-advances-hmo-restrictions-despite-low-consultation-response","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/second-home.uk\/?p=10689","title":{"rendered":"Medway Council advances HMO restrictions despite low consultation response"},"content":{"rendered":"

Medway Council is proceeding with tighter controls on houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) after receiving only four responses to its public consultation process.<\/p>\n

The council published the consultation figures ahead of a cabinet decision scheduled for 5th May, which will determine whether to make the Article 4 Direction permanent. The direction was introduced earlier this year covering seven wards in the authority.<\/p>\n

Consultation responses<\/h2>\n

Of the four submissions received during the month-long consultation period, two objected to the proposals. Objectors argued the policy should be applied on a street-by-street basis rather than across entire wards, and warned it could reduce housing supply and affordability. The remaining two responses supported the HMO restrictions.<\/p>\n

The council introduced the Article 4 Direction following what it described as growing concern from residents and Naushabah Khan, Labour MP for Gillingham and Rainham, about the concentration of HMOs in certain areas.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Council officers told Kent Online that \u201cthe rationale for the introduction of the Article 4 Direction remains clear.\u201d They rejected the suggestion of a more targeted approach, stating this \u201cwould be more likely to displace the issue rather than address it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Impact on housing supply<\/h2>\n

Officers also dismissed claims that the policy would restrict housing supply, stating that only schemes failing to meet required standards or causing harm to the local area would be refused. The move follows a pattern of councils seeking greater control over rental housing, similar to recent measures affecting rental insurance requirements<\/a> and landlord enforcement actions<\/a> elsewhere in the UK.<\/p>\n

The Article 4 Direction removes permitted development rights for smaller HMOs, requiring all conversions to undergo planning approval. The direction applies to parts of Chatham, Gillingham and Strood, covering seven wards identified as having the highest concentrations of HMOs.<\/p>\n

The low consultation response rate has not deterred the council from advancing the policy, with cabinet members set to make a final decision on permanency next month. The direction has been operational since its introduction earlier this year, with the consultation running alongside the initial rollout.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Medway Council is proceeding with tighter controls on houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) after receiving only four responses to its public consultation process. The council published the consultation figures ahead of a cabinet decision scheduled for 5th May, which will determine whether to make the Article 4 Direction permanent. 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The council published the consultation figures ahead of a cabinet decision scheduled for 5th May, which will determine whether to make the Article 4 Direction permanent. 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