Private sector housing

The council's role in private sector housing

We have a key role to play in private sector housing. In particular, we aim to:

• Advise residents about the options they have for improving and maintaining their homes
• Enable residents to access services and resources that may be available to help and improve their circumstances
• Use its statutory powers, where appropriate, to enforce safety and good property condition and management
• Identify long-term empty properties and work with owners to bring such properties back into use

The council can intervene to effect change in the following circumstances:

• Using statutory powers in respect of poor conditions or hazards within the household
• Houses in multiple occupation (HMO) - regulation and licensing functions
• Using statutory powers to bring long-term empty properties back into use
• Offering financial assistance for the repair improvement or adaptation of private dwellings in appropriate circumstances
• Providing support to elderly people and other vulnerable households to undertake adaptations within their homes

Hazards within the home

The Environmental Protection Team responds to requests for assistance, advice and information about housing conditions from customers living in homes they rent from a landlord or that they own. The requests for service can also come from interested third parties such as parents of students in rented homes or from occupiers of neighbouring properties.

If you rent your home and it is in poor condition, we can ensure that your landlord undertakes repairs or improves the property to remove hazards from the property for which they are responsible.

View more information about Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS)