The Private Sector Housing team are responsible for enforcing the Council’s statutory functions in respect of Part one and two of the Housing Act 2004.

The team provides services which seek to ensure that the Borough’s private housing stock is maintained to a decent standard. These include mandatory Houses in Multiple Occupation licensing, investigations of Health and Safety concerns within privately rented accommodation, the annual inspection of residential mobile home sites, encouraging owners of empty properties to bring homes back into use, the investigation of private drainage issues and the provision of energy efficiency advice. 

In addition the team provides Disabled Facilities grants, Partnership grants and Home Repair Assistance grants. Please see the ‘Housing Grants’ Service Standards for further information on these services.

In addition to the standards in the Customer Charter you can expect us to deliver the following:

When You

We will

Within

(timescale)

Submit a valid HMO

licence application, including all supporting documentation and pay the licence fee invoice

Carry out a fit and proper person check and assess

the suitability of the property for the number of people and households

before making a decision on whether a licence can be issued and informing

you of that decision

30 days

Submit an application for an immigration

accommodation certificate

Contact you to arrange a property inspection

10 days

Report a long-term empty property to us

Respond to you and inform you of what action we are able to take

10 days

Report an unsecured derelict building to us

Begin making arrangements for the building to be made secure

48 – 72 hours

Report a breach of a caravan site licence

Respond to you and inform you of what action we are able to take

10 days

Report concerns about living conditions with a privately rented property

Respond to you and arrange a visit to assess conditions/ offer any appropriate advice

3 days

Last updated: Fri 25th November, 2022 @ 16:27