Medway Council advances HMO restrictions despite low consultation response
Original Article Summary
Medway Council is proceeding with tighter controls on houses in multiple occupation after receiving only four responses to its public consultation. Cabinet members will decide on 5th May whether to make the Article 4 Direction permanent across seven wards in Chatham, Gillingham and Strood. The post Medway Council advances HMO restrictions despite low consultation response appeared first on PropertyWire.
PropMatch Curated Analysis
Medway Council is moving to make a permanent Article 4 Direction covering seven wards in Chatham, Gillingham and Strood, removing permitted development rights for smaller HMO conversions and requiring full planning approval. Despite only four consultation responses, the council is pressing ahead with a cabinet decision due in May.
Investor Relevance
HMO investors operating or considering acquisitions in Medway's affected wards now face mandatory planning approval for conversions, adding cost, delay, and refusal risk. This changes acquisition underwriting assumptions and may suppress supply-side competition while increasing compliance burden for existing operators.
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