A large HMO is a shared house for seven or more people. In Strood, a town of about 33,000 people in Kent, the work is planned around the HMO rules for England and the council’s written HMO standards.
- Area
- Kent, England
- Postcodes
- ME1 and ME2
- Location
- 27 miles east of London
- Council
- Medway Council
- Pricing region
- South East
What do large HMO conversions (7+ sharers) in Strood involve?
- Planning and building control drawings, coordinated with your designer
- Sound insulation between rooms and floors
- Fire alarm and detection system sized for the building
- Feasibility review and measured survey
- Emergency lighting where the escape route needs it
Which rules apply in Strood?
Large HMO conversions (7+ sharers) in Strood 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:
- 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.
- Council standards often step up at 5 and 6 sharers, for example a separate WC at 5 and a second bathroom from 6.
- 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 Strood before you buy or start work. Source: Medway Council HMO licensing page, checked 2026-10-31.
How much do large HMO conversions (7+ sharers) cost in Strood?
| Item | UK typical | Local guide | Per |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Panel alarm system (Grade A type), larger HMO | £1,750 – £4,500 | £1,950 – £5,050 | house |
| Protected route upgrades: fire-resisting linings, fire stopping, lighting (three-storey house, our estimate) | £2,000 – £6,000 | £2,250 – £6,700 | house |
| 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 |
These are typical ranges including VAT, adjusted for South East, where costs run above the UK average. The fixed price for a house in Strood follows a site visit.
How long does it take?
Allow 10–20 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.
When do Strood landlords need it?
We usually get the call when:
- You have planning in place, or want to apply
- A large house, three or more storeys, or a building with lots of rooms
Questions about large HMO conversions (7+ sharers) in Strood
Can you work with my architect?
Yes. We often build from an architect’s drawings, or we can recommend a designer to prepare them.
Which postcodes in Strood do you work in?
All of them, including ME1 and ME2, and the surrounding parts of Kent.
Which council covers HMOs in Strood?
Strood 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 large HMO conversions (7+ sharers) cost in Strood?
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.
Large HMO conversions (7+ sharers) near Strood
- Rochester · 1 mi
- Chatham · 2 mi
- Gillingham · 3 mi
- Gravesend · 6 mi
- Grays · 9 mi
- Maidstone · 9 mi
- All of Kent
Other HMO services in Strood
- House to HMO conversion in Strood
- Escape routes, emergency lighting and fire stopping in Strood
- Fire alarm and detection systems in Strood
- Sound insulation in Strood
- Loft conversions for extra rooms in Strood
- Extensions for extra rooms in Strood
- Bedroom upgrades and room refits in Strood
- HMO fire safety upgrades in Strood