Housing Standards

Questions and Answers

Are there any schemes to help private landlords?

Yes. We currently run a landlord registration scheme in the borough. This is a free service that local landlords can sign up to. Their property is inspected and if it reaches a certain standard it can be registered with the local authority.

Once their premises are registered, we will give landlords advice and training on how to manage tenancies efficiently and legally. If you would like to become registered, please contact Barking and Dagenham Direct.

Are there any specific laws that apply to houses of multiple occupation?

Houses of multiple occupation are covered by specific laws about how they are run and whether they are fit to live in, including the number of bathrooms, toilets, kitchens and fire escapes, and whether they are overcrowded.

Can I call the housing standards team for advice?

Yes. They are available to give advice to landlords and tenants on housing matters. Please contact Barking and Dagenham Direct and they will put you through to an available housing standards officer or take a message if no one is available.

How do I know if I am eligible for a housing grant?

There are a number of conditions that you need to meet before we can authorise a housing grant for you.

If you have owned and lived in the property for less than a year, you will not be eligible for any grants. You can re-apply after a year.

If you have already had a grant at this property within the last 5 years, you will not be eligible for another grant. You can re-apply after 5 years.

My landlord has thrown me out of my home without any warning - what can I do?

If your landlord has illegally evicted you, we will try and help you. There are many ways in which illegal eviction or harassment can force tenants out of their home, and there are too many to explain here. If you feel that you are being harassed by your landlord or that you have been illegally evicted, contact our private-sector team to discuss your case.

My landlord refuses to carry out any repairs to my property - what can I do?

If your landlord is refusing to carry out essential repairs, our housing standards team can take legal action to force your landlord to do so. Not all repairs are considered essential and there will be different timescales for landlords to meet, depending on the type of repair.

There is an empty, run-down property in my street - is there anything you can do about it?

Report the property to the private-sector team and they will deal with it.

What are houses of multiple occupation?

In houses in multiple occupation, tenants share parts of the accommodation (such as the kitchen, bathroom, toilets or just the hallway or stairs) with people who are not part of their household.

What can I expect from the housing standards team?

This team enforces standards in properties that are owner-occupied or privately rented. This includes:

Providing advice
Assessing whether a property is fit to live in
Handling enquiries about repairs grants
Identifying empty properties
Inspecting and registering houses occupied by more than 1 household (houses in multiple occupation); and
Dealing with disputes between landlords and tenants

What is a 'decent home'?

A 'decent home' is one that meets the following conditions.

Fit to live in.

This means that it must be structurally sound and free from serious faults and dampness. It must have enough lighting, heating and ventilation (air circulation), and have water and drainage services. It must have a kitchen with hot and cold water, a toilet, and a bath or shower with hot and cold water.

In a reasonable state of repair.

Has a reasonably modern kitchen and bathroom.

This means the kitchen must be no more than 20 years old and have enough space and a safe layout. The bathroom must be no more than 30 years old and be in the most appropriate place for you.

Is reasonably warm.

This means that there must be heating and insulation so that you are kept reasonably warm in winter.

What types of grants can you offer?

Equity-release grants - these are for people aged 60 and over or with disabilities and it allows them to release some of the value of their property (equity) to help maintain it.

Repair grants - these are for people aged 60 and over who are not eligible for the equity-release grant to help maintain their home. A charge is placed on the property and must be repaid when the property is sold.

Safety-net repair grants - these are for people aged under 60 who cannot afford repairs to their own home. A charge is placed on the property and must be repaid when the property is sold.

Improvements grants - these are grants of £500 for properties within a home-improvement zone. A home-improvement zone is an area of housing where we will give the residents extra help to bring their property up to a decent standard. These grants help individuals to meet repair costs for their home.

Disabled-facilities grants - these grants pay for adaptations to a property (such as a stair lift) to allow the resident to continue living there.

Relocation grants - these may be available where disabled-facilities grants are not suitable.

Will you help with the cost of an improvement to my house?

We can provide some financial help for homeowners to make sure that their properties are kept up to a decent standard. The government has completely changed the system of house renovation grants, which means there are now fewer grants and we have less money available.