Article 4 by council › Medway

HMO Article 4 in Medway

Do you need planning permission to turn a family home into a small HMO in Medway? What the council's own direction says, with dates, the map and the source.

In parts. Medway has HMO Article 4 directions in named areas.

named areas: seven wards, each with its own immediate direction: Chatham Central and Brompton, Fort Pitt, Gillingham North, Gillingham South, Luton, Strood North and Frindsbury, Watling In force since 22 January 2026. Inside those areas a small HMO of 3 to 6 people needs full planning permission; outside them it is permitted development, subject to licensing. Check the exact address on the council's map or with the postcode checker below.

Coversnamed areas: seven wards, each with its own immediate direction: Chatham Central and Brompton, Fort Pitt, Gillingham North, Gillingham South, Luton, Strood North and Frindsbury, WatlingIn force from22 January 2026Made or confirmed5 May 2026Council pagewww.medway.gov.uk/info/200147/applying_for_planning_permissiMapcouncil mapNational dataset47 direction areas published, 0 for HMOsChecked8 September 2026

Check an exact postcode

A direction can cover part of a council, and the national dataset is incomplete. This asks the planning data service for the exact point and falls back to the council's own statement.

Is a postcode inside an HMO Article 4 area?

Licensing in Medway

Mandatory HMO licence: 5 or more people forming 2 or more households sharing facilities.

Additional licensing: none found. Approved, start date not yet published. Council property licensing page says additional licensing has been introduced for six wards but public notices, maps and dates were withdrawn due to an error and will be republished; consultation closed 2026-05-31. Not in force on 2026-09-07 per council page.

Selective licensing: none found. Approved, start date not yet published. Same council page: selective licensing for seven wards, public notices withdrawn pending correction; both schemes intended to start on the same day and run five years.

Full licensing detail for Medway

What an Article 4 direction means

HMO Article 4 directions remove the permitted-development right to convert a family home (C3) to a small HMO (C4, 3 to 6 people). Inside one, that conversion needs full planning permission. Councils may also run additional licensing (smaller HMOs) or selective licensing (all private rentals) in designated areas. Planning permission and licensing are separate: a licence does not grant planning permission, and permission does not remove the need for a licence.

See this on every listing.Kerbio puts the Article 4 answer, licensing, the council's HMO register and sold prices on the Rightmove, Zoopla or OnTheMarket page itself. Free for 7 days, then £39 a month.

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Sources: Medway council, planning.data.gov.uk Article 4 direction areas, gov.uk HMO licensing. Indicative; confirm with the council before you offer.