Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy and Civil Penalty Policy

These policies are an integral element of the Private Sector Housing Renewal Policy and although the council will do all it can to educate, inform and encourage property owners to undertake their responsibilities, firm enforcement action to protect the health and safety of tenants, occupiers and others will sometimes be required. The initiation of formal enforcement action will only occur when other measures have failed to produce the necessary response, or where there is an urgent need for action or legislation requires such.

The council is a signatory to the Enforcement Concordat and this policy is written to reflect its principles.

The Enforcement Policy sets out the general principles and approach which the council will follow when considering enforcement action in the field of private sector housing:

• dealing with unfitness
• disrepair
• insecure premises
• statutory nuisances and
• caravan/camping sites

The Civil Penalty Policy sets the amount of penalty to be issued once the council makes the decision to begin civil penalty proceedings.

Housing Standards Enforcement Policy(PDF) [315 kb]

Civil Penalty Policy(PDF) [442 kb]