Council probes over studio flats listed for rent at a former Premier Inn still registered as a hotel.
A company called Alder Design built the flats. They say that they got wrong info and listed the flats too soon. Now, they are changing their plans, hoping to offer cheap housing there.
The building is on Hever Court Road; Whitbread sold it last November. It’s legally a hotel still. But, Rightmove listed rooms as “studio flats,” with rent at £790 a month, excluding bills.
The council said they did not know about this back in December, although they did get a plan to add 16 rooms. This plan called the building “a hotel.” Usually, a special plan is needed to change it from a hotel to housing.
The listing offered 12-month leases, with people able to move in on January 18. A council person spoke on January 6, saying that they are working with the owners and want all activity to follow rules.
The council will tell owners if fixes are needed. Last week, they said they are checking things since a possible breach of regulations occurred, but they could not say more at the time.
The Rightmove listing is now gone, vanishing after questions, though you can still see it online. Alder Design’s office is at the Premier Inn.
Jim Godwin spoke for the owners, saying the listing was a bit early; advice led to the listing. He said plans matched hotel use best, and that one case allowed a hotel classification.
However, stays in that case were not long-term. This Premier Inn plan wanted longer stays, so they now seek “house in multiple occupation” status, since the rooms have shared areas stopping them from being flats.
They filed a plan to change the use, Mr. Godwin noted that housing is needed, as Gravesham and Kent face housing pressure. He said rooms will be clean and modern and the cost will be low.
Short lets meet basic needs. He stressed the importance of affordability, noting that affordable rooms will help both people and the council.