Housing Standards
Housing Enforcement, Property Standards & Disrepair
The Private Sector Housing team works closely with owners,
leaseholders, landlords and tenants to improve housing conditions
for people within Wychavon. The Housing Act 2004 introduced new new
enforcement options, a National Licensing scheme for
Houses in Multiple
Occupation and have changed the methods of assessment
of property standards to the Housing Health and Safety Rating
System.
How to Make a Complaint
In the first instance tenants need to let
their landlord know about the problem, in order to give him/her the
chance to put it right. You should also take a note of the date and
details of the complaint. If you do not receive a satisfactory
response please contact the Private Sector Housing Team on 01386
565335 or email
For further advice.
If you are a tenant from a Social Landlord you
must in the first instance contact you housing officer or the
repairs team to report the problem and work with your housing
association thoroughly before contacting the private sector housing
team.
Housing Health and Safety Rating
System (HHSRS)
The HHSRS is the Governments new approach to
evaluate the potential risk to the health and safety from any
defects identified with in the property. It is based on the
likelihood of an occurrence causing harm and the probable severity
of the outcomes of the occurrence. It relies on the informed
professional judgements of both of these to provide a simple means
of representing the severity of any dangers present in a
dwelling.
During an inspection at your property the
Officer will identify any of the 29 hazards. These include:
- Excess cold
- Damp and Mould Growth
- Excess heat
- Crowding and Space
- Entry by Intruders
- Personal Hygiene, Sanitation and Drainage
- Falls associated with baths, level surfaces and stairs
- Electrical Hazards
- Fire
- Structural Collapse and Falling Elements
The hazards are rated and the severity is
categorised as a Category 1 Hazard which is the most sever and the
Council has a duty to get remedied and a Category 2 Hazard which is
less sever and the Council has a power to remedy. This will
determine the next step for the complaint.
Enforcement
Where ever possible we try to improve the
standards of the property by working with the landlord, owner or
leaseholder. However in some circumstances it is necessary to take
formal action. This includes:
- A Hazard Awareness Notice
- Improvement Notice
- Prohibition Notice
- Emergency Remedial Action
- Demolition Order
- Designate a Clearance Area
Please note that from 1 April 2012, that there will be
a charge of £171.00 for serving formal enforcement
notices.
Citizens
Advice Bureau:
Where a property fails to meet these standards we can step in, to
improve living conditions. We can advise landlords and
tenants on their responsibilities and try to resolve problems
amicably, but where required we have powers to take appropriate
enforcement action.
Typical complaints include:
- overcrowding
- disrepair
- gas safety
- fire safety
- damp and condensation.
We can investigate issues arising from any home including
privately rented; housing association and owner occupied
property.
Landlord and Tenant Advice
Wychavon Landlords Forum
We hold an annual Landlords Forum, which is
usually held in the Autumn. For more information on this
please contact the Private Sector Housing Team on 01386 565335
Useful Information
Included below are links to other
organisations and documents that can provide further information on
specific issues:
Complaints regarding odour, noise and smoke
please contact Environmental Health on 01386 565015.
Complaints regarding refuse collections, bulky
waste collections and wheelie bins please contact Client Services
on 01386 565018
Complaints regarding planning issues and
building regulations please contact Planning on 01386 565468,
Building Control on 01684 862223
Complaints regarding:
Homestamp
Homestamp is an award winning multiagency partnership
with a direct interest in the private rented sector.
We are part of the Homestamp
Consortium, an award-winning partnership consortium with a
direct interest in private sector rented housing. Established well
over a decade ago, this organisation is comprised of Local
Authorities, the private rented sector, Universities, Police and
Fire Services with the aim of:
• encouraging the supply of good quality private rented
homes.
• providing and facilitating information and training for
landlords.
• considering and responding to regional and national issues
affecting the private rented sector.
• encouraging joint working between all interested
parties.
The Homestamp website features a range of useful information
concerning private renting, from advice and guidance for tenants to
technical guides for landlords and useful links to for those
requiring further advice and information.
For more information on Homestamp visit our website at www.homestamp.com. You can
also follow us on twitter @homestamp.
Homestamp Limited is a Limited Company by Guarantee.
Registered in England and Wales No:. 8295470
The Homestamp Consortium also manages the
Midland Landlord Accreditation Scheme (MLAS) which seeks to
recognise professional landlords and agents from across the
Midlands and provides training, education, advice and guidance as
part of seeking to improve the quality of privately rented
accommodation across the West Midlands.
For further information on the Midland Landlord Accreditation
Scheme visit our website: www.mlas.org.uk, or follow the Scheme on
twitter @mlastweets
Landlord
Accreditation Schemes
Wychavon does not run its own Landlord
Accreditation Scheme however details of the National Landlords
Association (NLA) and the Midlands Landlord Accreditation Scheme
(MLAS) can be found below:
National Landlords Association:
http://www.landlords.org.uk/support-advice/landlord-accreditation
Midlands Landlord Accreditation Scheme:
http://mlas.org.uk/
Advice booklet for landlords about keeping 'illegal drugs'
out of properties
Enquiries
For more information please view our on-line advice leaflets or
contact our Senior Property Standards Officer:
Ismene Broad
Property Standards Enforcement Officer
Telephone 01386 565341 - between 9am-5pm, Monday-Friday
Fax 01386 561092
Email ismene.broad@wychavon.gov.uk