Give your views on managing HMOs
Published
Thursday 2 April, 2026
Updated
Thursday 2 April, 2026
Swale Borough Council wants your views on how planning applications for houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) are considered across the borough.
HMOs are generally home to three or more people from different households and require planning permission where they accommodate 7 or more people.
They play an important role in providing cost-effective housing for many people, including young professionals, students, and key workers.
As the number of HMOs increase in Swale it is considered important that they complement the character of an area and do not cause an unacceptable negative effect on neighbouring properties.
To help manage this, the council has drafted a supplementary planning document (SPD) which sets out clear guidelines for HMOs to help address these concerns.
The SPD aims to manage the impact of HMOs on their communities while making sure they provide higher standards of living for occupants.
The key measures the SPD is looking to introduce include making sure:
- there is adequate levels of parking available for existing and future residents
- that waste storage facilities are suitably provided and managed
- the size of key rooms in the HMO are acceptable
The document also aims to make sure that HMOs are provided without being concentrated in a small area.
Cllr Tim Gibson, chair of the council’s Policy and Resources Committee, said:
“We understand that residents have concerns around HMOs, but we also recognise that they do play an important role in providing affordable housing for many single people.
“The aim of this planning document is to address these concerns while making sure we can provide important affordable housing for our residents.
“This includes making sure they are dispersed, that the character of our communities is preserved and that better living conditions are provided for our residents.
“We will be making sure room sizes are liveable, there is enough space for waste storage and that adequate parking is provided.
“Please let us know what you think about our plans, we want to make sure that HMOs integrate well into existing communities.”
The council is looking for the opinions of all interested parties including, residents, landlords, or people currently living in an HMO.
The consultation is running until 29 April 2026.
You can read the SPD and share your views by going to the council’s consultation portal here.
