A professional or co-living HMO refurbishment creates a higher-specification shared home: ensuite bedrooms, well-designed shared kitchens and lounges, good sound insulation, and finishes aimed at working tenants. Chatham is 30 miles east of London. We price professional and co-living HMO refurbs there against England’s HMO rules and the council’s written HMO standards, so work is planned to the standard an inspection looks for. Chatham has a university population, so many shared houses are let to students on yearly tenancies, and summer is the main window for works.
- Area
- Kent, England
- Postcodes
- ME1, ME4, ME5 and ME7
- Location
- 30 miles east of London
- Council
- Medway Council
- Pricing region
- South East
What do professional and co-living HMO refurbs in Chatham involve?
- High-quality fire doors and finishes
- Smart heating and lighting controls
- Kitchenettes in rooms where the layout allows
- Interior design and furnishing coordination
- Designer communal kitchen and lounge
Which rules apply in Chatham?
Here is what usually applies to a Chatham job of this kind. It is general information rather than legal advice, and the council’s written HMO standards have the final detail.
- Under the Renters’ Rights Act, civil penalties reach £40,000 for offences such as running an unlicensed HMO.
- Licensed HMOs must meet national minimum bedroom sizes: 6.51 m² for one person aged 10 or over, 10.22 m² for two, and 4.64 m² for a child under 10.
- National rules ask for an adequate number of bathrooms, WCs and basins and suitably located kitchens; numeric ratios are set by each council.
- The Fire Safety Order 2005 applies to the common parts of HMOs, enforced by the fire and rescue authority.
Medway Council: local HMO schemes
| Article 4 (HMO) | In force in part of the council area Article 4 Direction for seven wards (Chatham Central & Brompton, Fort Pitt, Gillingham North/South, Luton, Strood North & Frindsbury, Watling), approved 16 Dec 2025, in force Jan 2026. |
|---|---|
| Additional licensing | Approved, starts 4 Jan 2027 Six wards (Chatham Central & Brompton, Fort Pitt, Gillingham North and South, Luton, Watling), 4 Jan 2027 to 3 Jan 2032. |
| Selective licensing | Approved, starts 4 Jan 2027 Seven wards (as additional licensing plus Strood North & Frindsbury), 4 Jan 2027 to 3 Jan 2032. |
Schemes change. Check the council’s current pages for the exact address in Chatham before you buy or start work. Source: Medway Council HMO licensing page, checked 2026-10-31.
How much do professional and co-living HMO refurbs cost in Chatham?
| Item | UK typical | Local guide | Per |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full refurbishment per letting room, with a share of communal areas (excludes kitchens, bathrooms and fire systems; our estimate) | £4,000 – £9,000 | £4,500 – £10,100 | letting room |
| Ensuite shower room added to a bedroom | £4,000 – £10,000 | £4,500 – £11,200 | ensuite |
| Communal HMO kitchen with extra cooking and sink capacity (our estimate from domestic ranges) | £8,000 – £18,000 | £8,950 – £20,150 | kitchen |
| Acoustic upgrade to a party or partition wall | £900 – £2,000 | £1,000 – £2,250 | wall |
Use these as a starting point for budgeting. Access, condition and the council’s requirements in Chatham can move the figure either way, which is why we quote after seeing the house.
How long does it take?
Allow 8–16 weeks on site for a typical job. Drawings, approvals and long-lead items such as kitchens or fire door sets are booked before we start.
For student houses in Chatham, booking by spring is the safest way to make the summer gap.
When do Chatham landlords need it?
We usually get the call when:
- Town-centre houses near transport links
- Moving from student or budget lets to professional sharers
Questions about professional and co-living HMO refurbs in Chatham
Can every room have an ensuite?
Only where the room is still big enough after the ensuite is taken out and drainage can be reached. We check both before designing.
Which postcodes in Chatham do you work in?
All of them, including ME1, ME4, ME5 and ME7, and the surrounding parts of Kent.
Which council covers HMOs in Chatham?
Chatham is covered by Medway Council. We read the council’s written HMO standards before pricing, and you should check the licence position for the exact address.
How much do professional and co-living HMO refurbs cost in Chatham?
Our guide ranges for South East are in the table on this page, and the guide-price tool gives a figure for your house. A fixed written quote follows a free site visit.
Professional and co-living HMO refurbs near Chatham
- Gillingham · 1 mi
- Rochester · 1 mi
- Strood · 2 mi
- Maidstone · 8 mi
- Gravesend · 8 mi
- Sittingbourne · 9 mi
- All of Kent