A house to HMO conversion turns a single-family home into a house in multiple occupation: a shared home for unrelated people with private bedrooms and shared kitchen or bathroom space. For a house in Chatham we start with a measured survey, check the council’s written HMO standards for the number of sharers, and then price each item separately. 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 does house to HMO conversion in Chatham involve?
- Layout drawings showing bedrooms, kitchens, bathrooms and the escape route
- Decoration, flooring and a handover pack for licensing
- Fire doors, fire-rated linings and an interlinked fire alarm
- Extra bathrooms, shower rooms or ensuites
- Measured survey and room-size check against the licensing standards
Which rules apply in Chatham?
The rules below are the England-wide position for this kind of work. Councils add their own standards and schemes on top, so we always check the address in Chatham before we price.
- Mandatory HMO licence for 5 or more people in 2 or more households (since October 2018); councils can add additional licensing for smaller HMOs.
- 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.
- 3–6 unrelated sharers is use class C4; changing from a family house is usually permitted development unless an Article 4 direction applies.
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 does house to HMO conversion cost in Chatham?
| Item | UK typical | Local guide | Per |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical 3–4 bed house to a 5–6 bed HMO, all-in | £30,000 – £75,000 | £33,600 – £84,000 | project |
| Conversion works per letting room (walls, linings, electrics, decoration; excludes kitchens, bathrooms and fire systems; our estimate) | £3,500 – £6,500 | £3,900 – £7,300 | 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 |
| Interlinked mains alarm system (Grade D type), small HMO (our estimate from installer guides) | £800 – £2,000 | £900 – £2,250 | house |
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 6–14 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:
- A family let is moving to room-by-room letting
- You have bought, or are buying, a house to let to sharers
Questions about house to HMO conversion in Chatham
Do I need planning permission to turn a house into an HMO?
It depends on the nation, the council and the number of sharers. In England, three to six unrelated sharers is use class C4, and moving from a family house is usually permitted development unless the council has an Article 4 direction; seven or more normally needs permission. In Wales a change to an HMO always needs permission, in Northern Ireland all new HMOs need it, and in Scotland council policy decides. We check the address before drawings start.
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 does house to HMO conversion 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.
House to HMO conversion 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
- Small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in Chatham
- Large HMO conversions (7+ sharers) in Chatham
- HMO fire safety upgrades in Chatham
- Ensuite installation in Chatham
- Communal kitchen refits in Chatham
- Layout changes and room reconfiguration in Chatham
- Sound insulation in Chatham
- Bedroom upgrades and room refits in Chatham