Medway Council: Article 4 Direction for HMOs

What is the Medway Article 4 direction?

Medway Council has an Article 4 direction in force for houses in multiple occupation. The direction applies to Chatham Central & Brompton, Fort Pitt, Gillingham North, Gillingham South, Luton, Strood North & Frindsbury, Watling, where landlords and developers must apply for planning permission to convert a dwellinghouse (Class C3) into a small HMO (Class C4).

Wards and areas covered

The Medway Article 4 direction applies to the following wards and areas:

• Chatham Central & Brompton
• Fort Pitt
• Gillingham North
• Gillingham South
• Luton
• Strood North & Frindsbury
• Watling

What this means for HMO investors

Because the Article 4 direction applies to specific wards or zones rather than the whole council area, the planning impact depends on the exact location of the property. Investors should check the precise postcode against Medway's published map before assuming permission isn't required.

If you're considering acquiring or converting a property in Medway, factor planning permission into your due-diligence timeline and budget. Refused applications can scupper a deal, and unauthorised conversions risk enforcement action and lender complications.