Enforcement Policy for Private Sector Housing

Reviewed September 2009

Foreword

This document sets out a new Private Sector Housing (PSH) Enforcement policy brought about by the introduction of the Housing Act 2004. It explains how Thanet District Council as a Local Housing Authority (LHA) aims to tackle the many problems and issues present within the district, as outlined in the linked document ‘Private Sector Housing Strategy 2007-2011 (pdf version 405 kb)'. 

Together with a new set of procedures these documents contain information on how the enforcement tools, provided by the new legislation, can be used fairly and consistently to achieve improvement to housing in Thanet.

Contents

Part One - Housing conditions

• Introduction
• Legislation
• Enforcement Procedure
• Priorities 
• Target Hazards
• Decent Homes Standard 
• Level of Remedial Works Required
• Appeals 
• Offences 
• Prosecution
• Work in Default 
• Action by Agreement 

Part two – Mandatory HMO Licensing

• Introduction 
• Duty to licence HMOs
• Definition of an HMO
• Properties requiring a mandatory licence
• Applications for licences
• Application forms
• Checking and processing an Application
• Evidence and certificates
• Test of suitability for use as an HMO
• Fit and proper person and management
• Provision of false and misleading information
• Licence holder and management arrangements
• Missing information
• Fees and charges
• Granting a licence
• Licence conditions
• Refusing a licence
• Consequences of refusing a licence
• Inspections
• Revoking a licence
• Varying a licence
• Penalties
• Appeals
• Unlicensed HMOs
• Registered HMOs
• Interim management orders and final management orders
• Temporary exemption notices

Part three – Additions to the Policy

• Charging for enforcement action

Next: Part One - Housing conditions

E-mail:

housing@thanet.gov.uk

Tel: 01843 577218