All future HMOs in the area will now require planning permission
A council has agreed to introduce major restrictions on new houses of multiple occupancy (HMOs).
Medway Council’s cabinet approved plans to introduce an article four direction, which means all HMOs have to request planning permission.
The new rules will come into force after a required 21-day notice period has elapsed, the fastest option which was open to the authority.
It will apply in seven of the council’s wards – as the restrictions cannot be applied to the entire area and the use of the restrictions has to be justified to the government.
The wards affected are those with the highest number of HMOs. They are: Chatham Central and Brompton, Fort Pitt, Gillingham North and South, Luton, Strood North and Frindsbury, and Watling.
There are 1,018 such properties across the Towns, 658 of which are in the targeted wards.
At present planning permission is only required for conversions into HMOs which serve six or more people, with those for less able to convert without consulting the council.
But the new restrictions would mean all sizes have to submit applications and would have to be assessed by the authority, meaning their impact on parking, waste disposal and other factors will be considered.
Speaking at the meeting where the plan was approved on Tuesday (December 16), portfolio holder for climate change and strategic regeneration, Cllr Simon Curry (Lab) said: “There has been a significant increase in the number of HMOs over the last year, this is not just in Medway but a national issue.
“There is no doubt HMOs play an essential part of our housing, however it is also essential that the council retain control of where and how these properties are delivered.
“When HMOs are located, developed, and maintained properly, they are a valuable part of our housing stock, however in a lot of cases, particularly in the seven target wards, this is not the case.
“They are poorly located, have a serious impact on the local community, and are often very poorly maintained, to the detriment, both in health and mental well-being, of their tenants.
“This article four, along with selective licencing rules we’re using, is another tool in our toolkit to tackle some of the problems we’ve seen.”
Medway Council also brought in new selective licensing rules around HMOs to raise standards and punish landlords who do not upkeep their properties sufficiently.
Gillingham and Rainham MP, Naushabah Khan (Lab) wrote to the Towns’ authority earlier this year to ask them to introduce the article four measure due to the rising number of HMOs in Gillingham in particular.
After the authority approved the measure, she said: “HMOs have a place in the housing market, but the unchecked growth, particularly in Gillingham, has gone too far. That’s why I have consistently pushed for stronger controls.
“I’m pleased that residents have been heard and that we can now take firm action to curb the rapid spread of HMOs.
“This decision protects Gillingham as a community, not a get-rich-quick opportunity.
“This is a crucial first step in tackling HMOs in Gillingham, and I will work with local councillors to ensure it is delivered effectively.”
