Assistance Available

Information, Advice and Encouragement

The provision of advice and information is a key element of the Private Sector Housing Strategy and is mainly provided by the Environmental Health & Safety Section, Housing Services, and Social Services. The Home Improvement Agency is also developing a role. Home visits are offered to older residents, persons with disabilities or vulnerable people.

A wide range of advice and information is also available from a number of voluntary and private sector agencies across the Borough and is published through the local press, various newsletters, such as the Council's own paper Town & Country, and on the Council’s website.

The Sustainable Energy Officer is responsible for arranging talks, presentations and meetings to a range of organisations across the Borough. These include networking with statutory and voluntary groups, organisations for persons with disabilities, and meetings for older members of the community.

The Council aims to develop a more co-ordinated support service and is currently developing how advice, information and other services can be best provided using a Home Improvement Agency.

Financial and Other Assistance

The amount of assistance that can be given at any given time will depend upon the resources available. The Council will endeavour to provide both practical and financial help in accordance with eligibility criteria which may be varied from time to time to ensure that all homes across the Borough are accessible, warm, secure, well-maintained, and meet required energy-efficiency standards the Council will provide assistance:

For persons with disabilities and other vulnerable households and those on low incomes to ensure their homes are suitable to meet their physical needs, safe accessible, secure, in a reasonable state of repair, and meet required energy-efficiency standards.
To ensure that suitable standards are maintained in Houses in Multiple Occupation and other privately rented accommodation.
To support the Council’s community safety strategy.
To enable empty or under-utilised homes to be brought into use.
To support broader health and social care objectives within the Borough; for example, preventing falls and accidents in the home, and enabling older or persons with disabilities to live independent lives.

Enforcement

The Council’s private sector housing enforcement powers derive from the Housing Act 2004. The Council has extensive powers to intervene where housing conditions are unacceptable. In some cases formal enforcement action may have to be taken under fitness legislation, whether or not financial assistance can be made available.

The Council will at all times encourage individuals to keep their homes in good repair but where properties fall below acceptable standards and all other action has been exhausted the council has a clear policy for taking enforcement action where necessary. This is particularly important in the case of rented properties and Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs).

Enforcement includes consideration of the circumstances and views of tenants, landlords and owners. Firm enforcement action to protect the condition of the property and/or the health and safety of tenants and occupiers is sometimes necessary. The need for enforcement action is minimised by properly engaging owners and landlords in constructive dialogue.