Properties are inspected by staff in the Public Health and Housing Team of the Directorate in order to ascertain whether they meet the standards required by the Housing Act, Section 604.
When a property is inspected it is deemed to be unfit if it is found to be deficient in any of the following matters.
and, by reason of that failure, the premises are not reasonably suitable for occupation.
As from April 2006 a new piece of legislation comes into force. The Housing Act 2004 repeals the requirements of section 604 of the Housing Act 1985 and replaces it with the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS). The HHSRS requires that officers in Public Health and Housing Team concentrate less on the structure of the property and more on the health effects of a property on any occupants.
Properties are inspected with reference to 29 specified categories of housing hazard, including factors which were not covered adequately or at all by the Fitness Standard. These 29 Categories of hazard are divided into four main groups:
A risk rating is calculated for the property and the score achieved when the property is rated determines the course of enforcement action which follows. Enforcement action options available to officers include:
Officers will be inspecting properties in response to complaints received from occupiers who are dissatisfied with the conditions of the property in which they are living. Until April 6th 2006 the HHSRS comes into force and all inspections after this date will be carried out under the provisions of the new legislation.
If you would like further information about the Fitness Standard or the HHSRS please contact the Public Health and Housing Team on 0191 211 6170.
Page last updated: 16 August, 2011
