Housing standards for private rented homes

Housing standards for private rented properties, inspections, enforcement actions and costs.

Contents

Actions we can take to enforce housing standards

We can take enforcement action against you if you do not make the requested health and safety improvements to your property. 

We can issue you with a notice or order, which are subject to enforcement costs and must be paid by you. 

Improvement notice

An improvement notice is often used for Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) category 1 hazards. It can sometimes be used for HHSRS category 2 hazards.

The notice must:

  • say what the hazards are
  • give start and finish dates for work

The earliest start date will be 4 weeks after you get the improvement notice.

Emergency remedial action

Emergency remedial action is when we do the repair work and charge for the work.

This action is only taken if your tenants will suffer serious harm in the near future.

We must give you an emergency remedial action notice within 7 days of starting the work. Your tenant will also be given a copy.

Prohibition order

Prohibition orders are sometimes used for: 

  • overcrowded properties
  • properties with very serious hazards
  • repairs which cannot be done while tenants are living there

A prohibition order can:

  • stop people living in all or part of the building
  • limit the number of people who live there

A prohibition order usually starts after 4 weeks but we might decide to put it on hold or delay if no one vulnerable lives in the home.

In very serious cases, an emergency prohibition order can be issued to start immediately.

Demolition order

A demolition order can only be given to you for HHSRS category 1 hazards or in extreme circumstances.

Before making a demolition order, we must look at:

  • available local accommodation to rehome your private tenants
  • future demand to privately rent the property, if the hazards are fixed
  • other uses for the cleared site, if the property is demolished
  • how the cleared site will affect neighbours and the local area

If you do not carry out the demolition, we can enter the property, demolish it and get the costs back from you.

Enforcement policies

Any enforcement actions taken by us follow strict procedures. These are outlined in our policies.

Housing Standards Enforcement Policy

This policy outlines the enforcement procedures for breaches of legislation and regulations within the private rented sector.

Go the Housing Standards Enforcement Policy

Housing Standards Civil Penalty Notice Policy

Where you have not followed the law, we may prosecute or issue a Civil Penalty Notice. 

This policy outlines the financial penalties we may use if you:

  • do not make health and safety improvements to your property, after receiving an improvement notice
  • breach landlord legislation under the Renters' Rights Act

Go to the Housing Standards Civil Penalty Notice Policy