The council has pledged to drive up standards for tenants in privately rented homes while working to introduce measures to further regulate the creation of smaller Homes in Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
In a report to Cabinet last night (Tuesday), officers outlined the work undertaken by its private housing and planning teams to ensure landlords of HMOs in the borough are meeting their responsibilities.
The council operates the national mandatory HMO licensing scheme.
A licence is required where a property is occupied by five or more people, forming two or more households and are sharing facilities such as a kitchen, bathroom, and WC. This applies regardless of the number of storeys.
Licensing controls include a maximum number of occupants, minimum room and unit sizes, fire safety requirements, ongoing management obligations, and a fit and proper person test for landlords.
At the end of March 2026, there were 107 licensed HMOs in Gravesham, with a further 14 license applications being considered.
The authority receives on average five reports of suspected unlicensed HMOs a month, and while not all will be found to fall into that category, as of the end of March it was investigating 18 such properties.
Cllr Shane Mochrie-Cox, Gravesham’s Cabinet Member for Planning and Business Development and Deputy Leader of the Council, said: The authority receives on average five reports of suspected unlicensed HMOs a month, and while not all will be found to fall into that category, as of the end of March it was investigating 18 such properties.
“The vast majority of them do and work with us to ensure standards are being raised, but we are all too aware that some are failing in their duties.
“Our private housing team has an excellent track record of investigating and taking action against unlicensed HMOs and will continue to do so. Rogue landlords need to be aware that since the Renters’ Rights Act came into force at the start of May, they now face a minimum £17,000 fine.”
Currently in Gravesham residential properties can be converted into small HMOs without planning permission.
On Tuesday evening, Cabinet agreed to continue work towards the adoption of an Article 4 Direction which would see all such conversions requiring planning permission.
Cllr Mochrie-Cox said: “We have been working behind the scenes towards the adoption of an Article 4 Direction for a number of months and the Administration, last October, asked officers to start the process to bring a paper to Cabinet for decision as soon as possible, and last night’s decision of Cabinet will allow us to move on to the next stage and build the evidence base needed to support this.
“Undertaking Article Four directions is not a quick process but once in place such a direction means we will be able to control the location and concentration of HMOs to protect the character and amenities of local neighbourhoods, environmental quality, and public health.
“It will be another important tool in our armoury to ensure there are decent homes for everyone in the borough.”
Article Four directions remove permitted development rights from HMO’s which allow small HMO’s to be established without planning permission and ensure moving forward that all HMO’s require planning permission from Gravesham Borough Council as the local planning authority.
For more information about how the council’s private sector housing team is working to protect residents, and to report suspected unlicensed HMOs, visit our private sector housing pages.