Private Sector Housing (rented and/or owned)
Privately Rented Housing
The Housing Improvement Team works
with landlords and tenants to ensure the legal standards for
housing are met. When the team receives a complaint from
a tenant of poor housing conditions they will investigate, and if
needed, require the landlord to carry out repairs or
improvements.
Examples of works which may be
required include:
- leaking roofs and gutters made weatherproof
- missing glazing or broken windows made safe
- dangerous electrical wiring returned to good working order
- faulty fire alarms returned to full working order
- adequate kitchen or bathroom facilities installed
If landlords do not carry out the
works voluntarily, the Council may serve a Notice on them and
ultimately may then do the works and charge the landlords for the
costs. Landlords may be prosecuted for failing to carry out
repairs after a Notice has been served on them.
Very occasionally conditions within a
house cannot be put right and so a house may have to be demolished
or closed. In these rare circumstances the Council will offer
the tenants alternative accommodation.
Houses which are in use as bedsits or
long-term bed and breakfast accommodation, are known as "houses in
multiple occupation" (HMO) and must meet another group of legal
standards covering matters including overcrowding, sufficient
bathrooms and kitchens, and fire precautions.
Housing Act 2004 - landlords
guide PDF (292kb)
How to complain about your
accommodation
If you have a problem with your
housing you must inform your landlord as soon as you can. If
your landlord does not carry out repairs in a reasonable time then
you may wish to make a complaint to
the Housing Improvement Team.
If your complaint is about housing that you rent from the Council please
phone the housing repairs team on 01843 577265 or e-mail housing.repairs@thanet.gov.uk.
For advice on tenancy agreement or
eviction matters you may wish to speak to the council's Housing
Options Team by e-mailing housing@thanet.gov.uk or
telephone 01843 577277.
You may also wish to consult a local
solicitor or contact the Citizens Advice Bureau by e-mailing
thanetdcab@aol.com,
visiting their website http://www.thanetcitizensadvice.co.uk/or
telephone 01843 225973.
If a landlord or their agent is
violent, the matter should be reported to the Police.
Housing Improvement Team Service Standards
The council is committed to providing good quality services that
meet the needs of all. The
Housing Improvement Service Standards booklet sets out services
provided by the Housing Improvement Team, and what to do if you
wish to make a complaint.