Private rented property standards guidance

Private landlords are responsible for ensuring that any property they rent to tenants meets the minimum safety standards at the start of, and at all times during a tenancy.

This guidance does not supersede any statutory provision where works to a property may be requested. The aim of this guidance is that licence holders, landlords, agents, and owners ensure the advice is followed to remove the common hazards found in the private rented sector and reduce the need for enforcement action by the council. 

Compliance with this guidance does not negate the need for compliance with other statutory provisions, including The Housing Act 2004 (opens new window) and supporting regulations.

The council intend to inspect all properties within the licence designation area. This will take place at some point during the designation period. 

It is important to remember the council are not a surveying service and works that should have been identified by the landlord and then rectified by the Landlord or Licence Holder prior to the councils inspection are more likely to be dealt with by the service of an enforcement notice.

The landlord / licence holder must ensure that all works (including requesting any professional reports) that may be required to rectify any defect or missing element are completed before the council conduct their HHSRS property inspection. 

To ensure that you are compliant, and properties meet the required minimum safety standards, all properties should be inspected as soon as possible after a licence application is made. This is to ensure that any defects can be identified and rectified prior to the councils inspection. 

Once a licence is issued there is a three month period where the council will not inspect, and any works previously identified must be carried out. 

Defects found that fall into the more serious or urgent category of repairs and must be carried out with more urgency and sooner than the three month grace period. 

Once works are complete and you are confident the property will meet the standard set out within this guidance you must contact the Licensing Team to confirm this. An inspection may take place sooner if mutually agreed with the licence holder and a member of the team and where there is the capacity to do so. 

Large licensed portfolio holder (20 or more properties) 

We would recommend that licensable properties are inspected sooner to ensure compliance with housing standards. However, if you are a large, licensed property portfolio holder and your properties are already inspected on a regular basis (every six months or less) the three month grace period will be extended to six months to allow you to spread your inspections and remedial works over a longer period. 

You are encouraged to proactively provide the council with a simple list of properties and when they were last inspected. This will allow the council to programme inspections in the correct order following your own inspection.

Once works are complete and you are confident the property will meet the standard set out within this guidance you should contact the Licensing Team to confirm this. 

If you have any queries regarding meeting the requirements of the guidance you must contact the Licensing Team for further advice.

To utilise the six month grace period licence holders must be a large portfolio holder (20 properties or more) and must already be proactive in carrying out property inspections that would identify defects and remedial works. This grace period will also apply to a managing agent overseeing multiple licence holders where the agent would meet the 20+ licensed property criteria.