Medway Council's 10-week consultation on proposed additional HMO licensing and selective licensing schemes closes at 11.59 pm on Sunday 31 May 2026. The council published a final-stage reminder on 28 May 2026 urging affected landlords and tenants to respond before the deadline. If approved, both schemes are expected to come into force in autumn 2026.
Medway Council in Kent has launched a consultation on plans to implement an additional HMO licensing scheme and a selective licensing scheme. In Medway, Houses in Multiple Occupation already need to be licensed if they are occupied by five or more people, as they fall within the national mandatory HMO licensing scheme. The proposed additional licensing scheme would extend requirements to smaller HMOs below the mandatory threshold.
The 10-week consultation is now entering its final stages, with Medway Council encouraging anyone affected to respond before it closes on Sunday 31 May. If approved, selective licensing would apply to private rented homes occupied by single households or two sharers. Additional HMO licensing would apply to smaller shared houses rented to residents from three or four households who share (or lack) facilities such as a kitchen or bathroom ? properties not currently covered by the national mandatory HMO licensing scheme.
Landlords in Kent face twin licensing requirements under Medway's plans, which would cover an estimated 52 per cent of the borough's private rented sector. The additional licensing scheme targets six wards with the highest concentrations of HMOs, and a separate selective licensing scheme covering seven wards is planned for November.
Council analysis estimates that 23% of the borough's HMOs are likely to have serious hazards ? more than double the national average ? and Chatham Central & Brompton has the highest predicted hazard rate at 36%, nearly four times the national figure.
If approved by the council, both schemes would come into effect in autumn 2026. The final proposals will be submitted to Cabinet for decision in summer 2026. The final proposals will be submitted to Cabinet in summer 2026. Medway is a unitary authority covering Rochester, Gillingham, and Chatham. Under the Renters' Rights Act 2025, civil penalties for licensing offences can now reach ?40,000 for repeat or continuing breaches, materially increasing the enforcement risk for unlicensed landlords once any scheme is confirmed.
Action required
Landlords with properties in the six target wards for additional HMO licensing (Chatham Central & Brompton, Fort Pitt, Gillingham North, Gillingham South, Luton, and Watling) and the seven wards for selective licensing (the same six plus Strood North & Frindsbury) should submit responses to the consultation at medway.gov.uk before 11.59 pm on 31 May 2026. Monitor the council's website after summer Cabinet consideration for confirmation of scheme commencement and application opening dates.
Effective
Consultation closes 2026-05-31; scheme commencement expected autumn 2026
This content is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice. Always verify information against the original source and seek independent professional guidance before acting on any regulatory matter.