Medway Council is to tighten its HMO regulations on two separate fronts as rising local anger forces it to take emergency action if councillors give the go-ahead.

Its plans mean, alongside a new Article 4 Direction for seven of the borough’s wards, a consultation on expanding HMO licensing, says Councillor Simon Curry (pictured).

Residents say heavy concentrations of HMOs are worsening parking pressure, increasing litter through insufficient waste storage, and fuelling anti-social behaviour.

Severe impact

A petition demanding tougher controls warns HMOs are having a “severe impact on the area” and calls for all such properties in Medway to require full planning permission.

The petition organisers say they have now also secured the support of local MP Naushabah Khan, who is “fully on board” and urging the council to act.

The licensing proposals that are out for consultation would extend the current regime to smaller HMOs, adding more landlords to the existing system, where a five-year licence costs a hefty £1,305.30.

339 complaints

To support its case, the council is citing evidence that 22% of shared-amenity HMOs contain at least one serious hazard, with 339 complaints and 101 anti-social behaviour reports in five years.

The Article 4 Direction would come in addition to the licensing and would remove permitted development rights, requiring planning consent for every new HMO, including those with fewer than six occupants.

Curry says the council has opted to bring forward the Article 4 proposal now, rather than trial it for a year, because of what he described as the “existing need” in the affected areas.

The wards covered by the proposal are Chatham Central and Brompton, Fort Pitt, Gillingham North, Gillingham South, Luton, Strood North and Frindsbury, and Watling.