Gillingham: Our Complete HMO Investment Guide
Gillingham is located in the Medway region of Kent and is a well-connected town, only around 30 minutes from London by train. It neighbours the towns of Chatham and Rochester and forms one of the biggest urban areas outside of London. It has a growing student and professional population and is home to around 110,000 people, and it is becoming increasingly popular with HMO investors. We think Gillingham is a great place for HMO investors, whether you are investing for the first time or have a lot of experience. This is our complete guide to HMO investment in Gillingham. Why invest in HMOs in Gillingham? One of the many reasons that Gillingham is popular with HMO investors is that it is not covered by an Article 4 direction like many cities in the UK. This means that you are able to convert single-family homes (C3) to small HMOs (C4) under permitted development rights without the need to submit a planning application to the local council. If you are an HMO investor, this is good news as it can reduce the risk of investing in HMOs significantly. Once a property has been converted to a 6 person HMO, it is then also possible to apply for a Sui Generis HMO for 7 or more occupants. Given that the property is already in active use as an HMO at that point, objections to Sui Generis planning like parking pressure or noise disturbance tend to carry less weight in the planning process. This process of establishing a property under permitted development first and then applying for Sui Generis later making Gillingham a favourable area from a planning standpoint. It can offer HMO investors the flexibility and scalability that heavily regulated towns and cities lack. Transport Links and Professional Demand One of the benefits of Gillingham for tenants is the excellent rail connections into London. Fast trains can reach London St Pancras in under 45 minutes, and there are also direct services to London Victoria and Charing Cross. For commuters, this is a very convenient route and makes Gillingham an attractive location for young professionals – particularly for those priced out of the expensive London rental market. Outside of the appeal to commuters, Gillingham has its own employment base including the Medway Maritime Hospital, one of the largest in Kent. It also has many business parks and educational institutions, contributing to a rental demand from key workers and students. Housing Stock One of my key considerations when it comes to assessing the viability of HMOs in a given location is the type and quantity of the existing housing stock. Gillingham has a large number of Victorian and Edwardian terraced properties that are ideal for HMO conversion and they typically offer generous internal layouts, including things like reception rooms and decent sized bedrooms, all of which lend themselves to multi-occupancy setups. This isn’t something investors always think about, but it’s a big consideration as not all areas have properties such as these. This type of housing is also relatively affordable compared to neighbouring areas closer to London, which can also improve return on investment and make refurbishment projects more viable. Size Requirements and Shared Amenities Another advantage of investing in HMOs in Gillingham is the flexibility around shared amenities and room sizes. Unlike some local authorities, Medway Council does not have very rigid room size requirements. In some instances, they may refer to Essex or national guidance as a benchmark. Read our article on national minimum room standards for HMOs to understand what these limits are. In our experience, a combined shared spare of around 20 square metres is generally enough for six occupants, while 25-30 square metres is advisable for seven or more people. We always recommend engaging with the local housing standards team early in your planning process to help ensure you’re being compliant and avoid costly pitfalls. Student Population Gillingham is home to two universities – University of Greenwich and Canterbury Christ Church University. Both Medway campuses are part of the Universities at Medway Partnership, which shares facilities and attracts a diverse group of students to the Gillingham area. While it doesn’t necessarily boast the same volume of students like the cities of Southampton and Bristol, there is still a very reliable and consistent level of demand for shared accommodation like HMOs. Student HMOs specifically tend to cluster around the campuses and town centre, and the competition is generally lower, meaning full occupancy and strong yields are easier to achieve. HMO Licensing in Gillingham As with the rest of the UK, Gillingham is subject to mandatory HMO licensing for any property that houses more than five tenants. You can read more about this on the Medway Council website. It’s important to remember that this applies regardless of whether a property is in an Article 4 area or not. At the time of writing, there is currently no additional or selective licensing scheme in Gillingham or in the wider Medway area, therefore simplifying the process for HMO investors. If you are planning to invest in an HMO with 5 or more tenants, you’re planning application will be submitted to Medway Council and landlords must ensure that their properties meet all the rules and requirements. You can find out more about HMO licensing requirements in our article. Here are the HMO licensing fees in Medway: HMO licence fees: Other charges: Rental Yields and Investment Potential HMO rental yields in Gillingham are typically strong in our experience, and particularly when compared to standard buy-to-let properties. It’s not a secret that HMOs can generate higher returns given the nature of renting out multiple rooms, and yields of between 8%-12% are not uncommon. Larger, well presenting HMOs with ensuites and high quality interior finishes tend to generate better returns. The combination of steady demand, affordable properties and low planning friction mean that Gillingham is a compelling option for both experienced HMO investors and those looking to invest in their first HMO. Best Areas to Invest in