The Housing Act 2004 gives local authorities the power to enforce housing standards across the borough. Landlords must ensure that their rented properties meet this standard which is described in the Housing Acts and Housing Health and Safety Rating System. Failure to comply with the act may lead to criminal prosecution.
Please note that Hertsmere Borough Council cannot assist with complaints about disrepair unless you have completed certain actions.
You should first contact your housing association and arrange repair, most housing associations are very good and will repair problems quickly. If you are dissatisfied with their actions you must go through your association’s formal complaints procedure and if necessary have advanced your complaint to the Housing Ombudsman.
If you are still dissatisfied after that the Council may intervene.
If the housing officer is satisfied that the property does not meet the conditions laid out in the Housing Acts they will begin to resolve the issue with the person responsible for repairs. In most cases the disrepair issues can be resolved by informal contact such as a letter, email or telephone call to the landlord or agent. If however, the informal approach fails, then the council may serve a notice which requires work to be carried out within a set timescale. The notice will be in line with Hertsmere’s Housing Enforcement Policy. A copy of the policy can be sent to you by email on request.
Failure to comply with the terms of a notice is a criminal offence and the council may prosecute.
Should the housing officer issue a notice there is an automatic £350 administrative charge applied for each notice served.
Civil penalties of up to £30,000 can be applied where landlords fail to comply with notices.
No, the council will always seek to have repairs carried out so that the occupiers can continue to live in the property.
