Home
Housing hazards
It is a landlord's duty to maintain their property when renting to private tenants. Tenants can report defects and disrepair and we will visit to assess the condition to see if there are any housing hazards.
The most common hazards are:
- damp and mould growth
- excess cold
- falling on stairs
- falls associated with baths
- falls on level surfaces
- fire
- electrical hazards
- personal hygiene, sanitation and drainage
- food safety
- crowding and space
- entry by intruders
There are 29 hazards in total and an officer will make an assessment on the severity of the hazard. This can result in a legal notice being served on the landlord, which means by law they must carry out works to reduce the hazards identified.
Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO's)
If you live in a single family house, flat or share your accommodation with other people, your home should be safe to live in.
Additional rules apply to houses that are shared. These are known as houses in multiple occupation (HMO's) and should:
- be adequately protected from fire
- have enough bathrooms, toilets, wash basins and kitchens for everyone to use
- have a restricted number of people sharing a house to prevent overcrowding
- it may also need to be licensed with the council.
Public health
If you are a private tenant and are affected by any public health issues, such as:
- excessive build up of rubbish
- statutory nuisances
- excessive dog fouling in private property
- pest control
- blocked drains.
Contact us, details below.
Enforcement
The enforcement powers the council have are extensive and the action that can be taken can range from:
- an informal chat
- followed by a letter to the landlord outlining their legal duty as a landlord
- to serving legal notices
- and in some cases prosecuting the landlord for failing to comply with the notice
- works in default can also be arranged should the landlord fail to respond to the requirement in the notice.
Any private tenant who is experiencing difficulty with disrepair, defects or nuisance in their home or is unsure if their home complies with the relevant standards, is advised to contact their landlord in writing. If there is no satisfactory response then contact us on the details below.
The Government has produced a Dos and Don'ts factsheet for tenants on the legal requirements of renting, how to deal with disputes and what to expect from landlords.
Contact Details
| Enforcement Team | |
|---|---|
| Department | Adult Services, Health and Housing |
| Telephone | 020 8726 6100 |
| Fax | 020 8760 5724 |
| hsg-privatehousing@croydon.gov.uk | |
| Address | London Borough Croydon Housing needs and strategy 13th Floor, North Side Taberner House Park Lane Croydon CR9 1DH |
