An HMO loft conversion adds one or two letting rooms, often with an ensuite, in the roof space. Landlords in Chatham (ME1, ME4, ME5 and ME7) usually come to us with a council letter, a fire risk assessment or a house they have just bought. We price from whichever you have. 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 loft conversions for extra rooms in Chatham involve?
- New stair within the protected route
- Feasibility and head-height check
- Dormer or roof windows
- Structural design and steelwork
- Planning or permitted development check
Which rules apply in Chatham?
Loft conversions for extra rooms in Chatham must satisfy national law for England, the council’s written HMO standards and, where walls, drainage or fire separation change, the building rules. In short:
- 7 or more sharers is a sui generis large HMO and normally needs planning permission.
- Building regulations cover structural changes, new partitions, ensuite drainage, fire-resisting construction and notifiable electrical work.
- Smoke alarms on every storey with living accommodation and CO alarms by fixed combustion appliances (other than gas cookers) are required by law.
- 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.
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 loft conversions for extra rooms cost in Chatham?
| Item | UK typical | Local guide | Per |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dormer loft conversion, about 30 m² | £40,000 – £60,000 | £44,800 – £67,200 | project |
| Rooflight loft conversion, about 30 m² | £22,500 – £30,000 | £25,200 – £33,600 | project |
These are typical ranges including VAT, adjusted for South East, where costs run above the UK average. The fixed price for a house in Chatham follows a site visit.
How long does it take?
Most jobs of this kind take 6–10 weeks. If a council deadline applies in Chatham, tell us at the first call so the programme is built around it.
For student houses in Chatham, booking by spring is the safest way to make the summer gap.
When do Chatham landlords need it?
Landlords in Chatham most often ask us for this when:
- A house with usable roof space
- Adding rooms to make an HMO work financially
Questions about loft conversions for extra rooms in Chatham
How much head height do I need?
As a rule of thumb, about 2.2 metres at the highest point of the existing roof space before any work. Less can work with a dormer or lowered ceilings.
How far do you travel from Chatham?
We cover the whole of Kent and work UK-wide. For Chatham the nearest towns on our list are Gillingham (1 miles), Rochester (1 miles), Strood (2 miles).
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 loft conversions for extra rooms 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.
Loft conversions for extra rooms near Chatham
- Gillingham · 1 mi
- Rochester · 1 mi
- Strood · 2 mi
- Maidstone · 8 mi
- Gravesend · 8 mi
- Sittingbourne · 9 mi
- All of Kent
Other HMO services in Chatham
- Extensions for extra rooms in Chatham
- Large HMO conversions (7+ sharers) in Chatham
- Escape routes, emergency lighting and fire stopping in Chatham
- Ensuite installation in Chatham
- Layout changes and room reconfiguration in Chatham
- Fire alarm and detection systems in Chatham
- HMO fire safety upgrades in Chatham
- Professional and co-living HMO refurbs in Chatham