Housing Standards

This service enforces the key provisions of the Housing Act 2004, and associated law, to maintain decent housing standards for our residents

The Housing Act 2004 provides a broad range of duties and powers for local councils including:

The Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) (Part 1 - Housing Conditions)
Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (Part 2)
Selective Licensing of other Residential Accommodation (Part 3)
Management Orders (Part 4 - Additional Control Provisions in Relation to Residential Accommodation)
Mobile Homes (Part 6 - Other Provisions about Housing)
Powers of Entry (Part 7 - Supplementary and Final Provisions)

General hazards

The Housing Act 2004 introduced the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS). This is a new risk based system for deciding whether a house is healthy and safe. It specifies 29 different hazards to be assessed and the likelihood of injury or ill health from each is calculated. Examples of these hazards are dampness and mould growth, falls associated with stairs, excess cold, crowding and fire.  Local authority enforcement powers will cover matters that previously could not be dealt with such as the risk of falls and tripping.

All dwellings contain hazards and the purpose of our work is to advise owners of the existence of any hazards, their severity and what is required to mitigate, or remove, those hazards.

If you own your house, it is your responsibility but if you rent a property, it is the landlord's responsibility to ensure certain standards are met. If the property fails to meet these standards the Council can give advice or take legal action to ensure the property is brought up to an acceptable standard.

If you rent your home, and it needs repairs, your landlord will normally be responsible for ensuring these are done. You should inform your landlord of the problem at an early stage, and allow them a reasonable period to put it right. Your landlord has the right to enter your home to carry out repairs as long as reasonable notice has been given, and sometimes without notice if there is an emergency.

If you have problems having the repairs done, the Council will carry out an inspection. If the house is found to fall below an acceptable standard, the Council can take action to require your landlord to carry out works.

If you have told your landlord about repairs that need doing, and they have not made arrangements for them to be done within a reasonable time, contact the Environmental Health Team.

Housing Act Flyer.

Information for landlords.

Crowding

There is no longer a specific, numeric, standard for the number of people who may live, or sleep, in a dwelling or individual room. Crowding is now one of the hazards that can be assessed under the rating system and we will take into account any other hazards that exist in the dwelling and whether, or not, those hazards are made worse by the number of people living in the dwelling. For example, if you only have one bathroom, or a small kitchen, hazards may arise if too many people have to share those facilities

 If you would like more information, or think you are living in overcrowded conditions, contact the Environmental Health Team.

Gas Supply

If your rented property has a gas supply, your landlord is required by law to ensure that a safety check is carried out on each gas appliance/flue every year. Within 28 days of the check being carried out your landlord must give you a copy of the safety inspection. Any new tenant must also receive a copy of the current certificate. Your landlord must keep records of every safety check for two years.

Landlords are not obliged to check any appliance that is owned by you, or any flues/chimneys that are only connected to an appliance owned by you.

If you are concerned that your landlord is not complying with the law, ring the Health and Safety Executive's Gas Safety Line on 0800 300363 or visit their website by clicking here

Furniture

All upholstered furniture that is supplied in rented property to a new tenant must comply with fire safety standards. For further information contact Trading Standards

Further Guidance on Housing Standards

• Further guidance on Housing Standards is available on the Communities website
• Guidance on the resale of Gas and Electricity
• A Guide to the Furniture and Furnishings (fire safety) regulations
• A guide for Landlords and Tenants on Repairs
• A guide to the Landlord's Duties under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998
• Electrical Safety
• Housing Act 2004