South East
HMO licensing in Medway
Medway Council requires a mandatory licence for HMOs occupied by 5 or more people from 2 or more households. No additional or selective licensing scheme is currently in force in Medway (checked September 2026). The published licence fee starts at £1,598.99 (£894.33 to renew).
Mandatory licence
5+ people, 2+ households
National scheme
Additional / selective
None in force
Mandatory licensing only
Licence fee
From £1,598.99
Renewal £894.33
Decision time
Not published
Licensing schemes in Medway
Medway approved new Additional HMO licensing (Chatham Central and Brompton, Fort Pitt, Gillingham North, Gillingham South, Luton, Watling) and Selective licensing (the same wards plus Strood North and Frindsbury) on 22 September 2026. Both schemes are due to start on 4 January 2027 and end on 3 January 2032; the consultation has finished and neither scheme is in force yet.
- Announced
- 22 September 2026
Verified 24 September 2026
Licence fees
The published fee for a new HMO licence is £1,598.99, and £894.33 to renew. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.
Medway Council's own 'Apply for a mandatory HMO licence' page states a new mandatory HMO licence application costs £1,598.99, covering application handling, checks, inspections and involvement during the licence period. The 'Renew a mandatory HMO licence' page states renewal costs £894.33 where there have been no significant changes to the property, or £1,016 if there have been significant changes (e.g. change in licensed bedrooms/occupants, or major alterations). No accredited-landlord discount or instalment plan is mentioned for the mandatory scheme on these pages. Separately, the council's Fees and Charges 2026/27 schedule (via democracy.medway.gov.uk) lists different fees for the Additional HMO licensing scheme (Fee Part A £1,600.00 + Fee Part B £830.00) and Selective licensing scheme (Fee Part A £840.00 + Fee Part B £436.00, with discounts: early bird £404.00, accredited landlord £50.00, charity £100.00, multiple-property £400.00) - these apply only within the designated wards and are recorded here in notes rather than in the totalGbp/renewalGbp fields, which reflect the mandatory (national) HMO scheme only.
Check the current fee on the council website (medway.gov.uk) before you apply.
Minimum room sizes
| Single bedroom | 6.51 m² (national statutory minimum). |
|---|---|
| Double bedroom | 10.22 m² (national statutory minimum). |
| Child under 10 | 4.64 m² (national statutory minimum). |
| Note on source | No Medway-specific HMO amenity/room-size standards document could be located on the council's own site or in its committee papers, so these are the national fallback figures from the Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (Mandatory Conditions of Licences) (England) Regulations 2018, not a bespoke Medway figure. A 2011 'Medway Housing Design Standards (interim)' document exists but appears to apply to general new residential design/space standards rather than being cited as HMO licence amenity conditions, so it has not been used here. |
National minimums for licensed HMOs are 6.51 m² for one adult and 10.22 m² for two adults; councils can apply higher local standards.
Fire safety requirements
- Landlords must install and maintain smoke alarms and other fire safety measures appropriate to the building type (per the council's 'Conditions for running a HMO' guidance).
- A current landlord gas safety certificate is required annually where the property has a gas supply.
- Electrical appliances must have safety certificates, produced on request; an electrical safety certificate issued within the last 5 years must be uploaded with licence applications.
- A Fire Risk Assessment and any fire safety certificates must be provided with HMO licence applications.
- The property must be kept free of hazards and be properly maintained and repaired, including appliances and furniture provided by the landlord.
Kitchen, bathroom and amenity standards
- The council's published guidance does not set out a specific kitchen/bathroom facility-to-occupant ratio scale on its public HMO pages; landlords should contact hmo@medway.gov.uk for property-specific requirements, or refer to national HMO amenity standards guidance (e.g. NRLA) pending confirmation of a Medway-specific document.
- Adequate waste bins and storage space for waste must be provided.
Documents you will need
- Floor plan — Current, to-scale floor plan showing room sizes and locations in the property.
- Electrical safety certificate (EICR) — Issued within the last 5 years.
- Gas Safety Certificate — Issued within the last year, if the property has a gas supply.
- Fire safety certificates — Any relevant fire safety/fire risk assessment certification.
- Tenancy agreements — Copies of current tenancy agreements.
- Proof of address — For the proposed licence holder.
- Article 4 planning consent — Required if the property falls within an Article 4 Direction area.
Sources
Compiled from the council’s own published pages and documents; data reviewed September 2026. Rules and fees change, so always confirm with Medway Council before applying. This is general information, not legal advice.