If you are concerned about your
housing conditions and you live in Forest Heath, then please
let our Environmental Health Team know:
Email:
es@forest-heath.gov.uk
Telephone: 01638 719733
The Housing Act 2004 makes important changes towards these
properties. The following PDF file provides useful
information -
Housing Act Flyer. Follow this link for
information
for landlords.
A house in multiple occupation (HMO) can be defined as a house
which is occupied by persons who do not form a single household.
There is various case law showing the types of houses that this
includes. The types have been broken down to the following
categories:
- Bedsits
- Shared houses
- Houses with shared facilities made available by their employer
or educational establishment
- Hostels, guesthouses, bed and breakfast hotels
- Houses that require registration under the Homes Act 1984
- Self-contained flats
A large number of staff in the racing industry live in HMOs in the
Newmarket area. In Brandon there is a population of migrant
agricultural workers who also live in HMOs, often owned and managed
by their employers.
Our role in enforcing HMO conditions includes checking:
- arrangements for the preparation and cooking of food
- suitable number and location of WCs for the exclusive use by
the occupants
- suitable number and location of baths (or showers) and wash
basins
- adequate means of escape from fire (mandatory enforcement in
some cases)
- adequate other fire precautions.
- amenity s354
- spatial s358
- water supply and drainage
- gas and electricity (not interrupted)
- parts of the house in common use
- installations in common use
- living accommodation
- windows and ventilation
- means of escape from fire
- outbuildings yards in common use
- disposal of refuse and litter
- general safety
To help achieve this Forest Heath District Council have produced
the following -
Guide to HMO
You can write to us at:
Environmental Services
Forest Heath District Council
District Offices
College Heath Road
Mildenhall Suffolk
IP28
7EY