A small HMO is a shared house for three to six unrelated people. In Gillingham, a place of roughly 100,000 people in Kent, the work is planned around the HMO rules for England and the council’s written HMO standards.
- Area
- Kent, England
- Postcodes
- ME7
- Location
- 30 miles east of London
- Council
- Medway Council
- Pricing region
- South East
What do small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in Gillingham involve?
- Decoration and durable flooring
- Second bathroom, shower room or ensuites
- Fire doors to rooms off the escape route
- Interlinked smoke and heat detection
- Electrical upgrades and certificate
Which rules apply in Gillingham?
Here is what usually applies to a Gillingham 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.
- Floor area under a ceiling lower than 1.5 m does not count towards the room size, and many councils set larger sizes.
- National rules ask for an adequate number of bathrooms, WCs and basins and suitably located kitchens; numeric ratios are set by each council.
- 7 or more sharers is a sui generis large HMO and normally needs planning permission.
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 Gillingham before you buy or start work. Source: Medway Council HMO licensing page, checked 2026-10-31.
How much do small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) cost in Gillingham?
| 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 |
| Shared bathroom refit | £5,500 – £9,000 | £6,150 – £10,100 | bathroom |
| Interlinked mains alarm system (Grade D type), small HMO (our estimate from installer guides) | £800 – £2,000 | £900 – £2,250 | house |
| FD30S fire door leaf into an existing frame, with seals, closer and hinges, fitted | £300 – £600 | £340 – £670 | door |
Prices in Gillingham are shown with our regional adjustment for South East (above the UK average). Your quote is itemised and fixed in writing once the scope and specification are agreed.
How long does it take?
Allow 4–10 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 Gillingham landlords need it?
We usually get the call when:
- A three or four-bedroom house you want to let to sharers
- An existing small HMO needs bringing up to date
Questions about small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in Gillingham
What is the smallest room I can let?
In a licensed HMO in England, a room for one person aged 10 or over must be at least 6.51 square metres, not counting floor under a ceiling lower than 1.5 metres. Councils can set larger sizes, and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own standards. We measure every room before you commit to a layout.
Do you cover all of Gillingham?
Yes. We work across Gillingham and the ME7 postcode areas, plus the rest of Kent. Nearby places we also cover include Chatham, Rochester, Strood.
Which council covers HMOs in Gillingham?
Gillingham 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 small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) cost in Gillingham?
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.
Small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) near Gillingham
- Chatham · 1 mi
- Rochester · 2 mi
- Strood · 3 mi
- Gravesend · 8 mi
- Maidstone · 9 mi
- Sittingbourne · 9 mi
- All of Kent
Other HMO services in Gillingham
- House to HMO conversion in Gillingham
- Ensuite installation in Gillingham
- Fire alarm and detection systems in Gillingham
- Communal kitchen refits in Gillingham
- Fire doors in Gillingham
- Licence condition and schedule-of-works in Gillingham
- Escape routes, emergency lighting and fire stopping in Gillingham
- Layout changes and room reconfiguration in Gillingham