Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council has re-opened its public consultation on planning controls for Houses in Multiple Occupation across eight named areas of the borough, giving residents until 18 December 2026 to have their say.
Landlords and property owners in Tonbridge, Kings Hill, Snodland, Walderslade, Larkfield and both parts of Aylesford would need to apply for planning permission before converting a family home into a shared house for up to six people — something that previously required no application at all. The council extended the areas covered by its Immediate Article 4 Direction after Cabinet first approved the measure in October, which is why the consultation has been re-run.
An Article 4 Direction is a planning tool that lets a council bring certain types of development under planning control that would otherwise be approved automatically. An HMO — a House in Multiple Occupation — is a property where several people from different households share facilities such as a kitchen or bathroom.
Worth being clear on: this is separate from HMO licensing, which deals with safety and conditions inside the property. The proposed planning control is about something different — whether a new HMO is actually right for the street it sits on, and what knock-on effect it might have on local services and amenity.
Councillor Robin Betts, Cabinet Member for Housing, Environment and Economy, said: “This extended consultation gives people the opportunity to share their views on how future HMO development should be managed and its impact on local communities and its services. We consider this to be a preventative measure to ensure any increase in HMO development is considered from a public amenity perspective, which is not something we can do under the HMO licencing regime, which focuses on safety and compliance within the property.”
Already submitted your comments during the earlier round? You don’t need to do anything. The council has confirmed those responses will still be considered.
The eight areas covered are Aylesford North, Aylesford South, Kings Hill, Larkfield, Snodland East, Snodland West, Tonbridge and Walderslade. Maps of each area and details of how to comment are available at www.tmbc.gov.uk/hmo-consultation.
Key information
- Consultation closes: 18 December 2026
- Areas covered: Aylesford North, Aylesford South, Kings Hill, Larkfield, Snodland East, Snodland West, Tonbridge and Walderslade
- Previous responses: do not need to be resubmitted — the council will consider them automatically
- How to comment: visit www.tmbc.gov.uk/hmo-consultation
The council will consider all responses before deciding whether to confirm the Article 4 Direction.
Tonbridge and Malling re-launches HMO planning consultation Quiz
5 questions