A small HMO is a shared house for three to six unrelated people. For a house in Strood we start with a measured survey, check the council’s written HMO standards for the number of sharers, and then price each item separately.
- Area
- Kent, England
- Postcodes
- ME1 and ME2
- Location
- 27 miles east of London
- Council
- Medway Council
- Pricing region
- South East
What do small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in Strood involve?
- Decoration and durable flooring
- Fire doors to rooms off the escape route
- Kitchen enlarged or refitted for the number of sharers
- Locks, door closers and thumb-turn locks on the exit route
- Interlinked smoke and heat detection
Which rules apply in Strood?
Small HMO conversions (3–6 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.
- 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.
- 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 small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) cost in Strood?
| 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 Strood 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 Strood landlords need it?
Typical reasons for this work in Strood:
- You want a three to six sharer layout that fits the local planning rules
- A three or four-bedroom house you want to let to sharers
Questions about small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) in Strood
How many bathrooms does a small HMO need?
National rules in England say amenities must be adequate for the number of sharers, and councils set the numbers: often a bathroom plus a separate WC at five people and a second bathroom from six. We work to the figure your council publishes.
How far do you travel from Strood?
We cover the whole of Kent and work UK-wide. For Strood the nearest towns on our list are Rochester (1 miles), Chatham (2 miles), Gillingham (3 miles).
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 small HMO conversions (3–6 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.
Small HMO conversions (3–6 sharers) near Strood
- Rochester · 1 mi
- Chatham · 2 mi
- Gillingham · 3 mi
- Gravesend · 6 mi
- Grays · 9 mi
- Maidstone · 9 mi
- All of Kent