News Share your views on Houses in Multiple Occupation

Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) is inviting all residents and businesses in the borough to share their views on the proposed Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) as part of a four-week consultation.

Launching on Monday 31 March 2025, MBC is seeking community feedback to help the Council work towards its strategic objective of providing Quality Homes for All. The proposed HMO SPD expands on relevant policies in the Local Plan Review 2021-38, offering guidance on how they should be applied in practice.

This SPD aims to:

* Improve the quality of HMO accommodation in Maidstone

* Minimise potential effects on neighbouring properties

* Balance the need for family homes with the demand for HMOs

* Provide a clear and consistent framework for HMO planning applications

MBC is particularly keen to hear from residents living in the borough of Maidstone, including current HMO tenants, and local businesses. This insight will enable the Council and its partners to effectively plan for the future.

Cllr Tony Harwood, MBC Cabinet Member for Planning Policy and Management, commented:

The HMO SPD will be a game-changing set of new rules to help ensure that future developments are well-managed and applicants have access to comprehensive HMO guidance before submitting their proposals. I urge everyone to share their views to help shape the SPD and ensure that Maidstone remains a great place for everyone to live.

Cllr Simon Wales, MBC Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness, provided more background to the SPD, saying:

HMOs provide a form of low-cost housing, particularly for younger people and people on low incomes. They also provide flexible options for people who have short-term housing requirements and for those who prefer to live in a shared house with a number of other people.

The consultation is open for four weeks, closing on Sunday 27 April at 11.59pm, and people can share their views through the Let’s Talk Maidstone platform.

The feedback will help shape the way that HMO planning applications are dealt with in Maidstone. After the consultation period closes, MBC will:

* Review and analyse all feedback received

* Make necessary amendments to the SPD based on public and stakeholder input

* Present the updated document for formal adoption by the Council.

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