Private Sector Housing

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All the aspects of Private Sector Housing listed below are administered by Environmental Health, situated in the Guildhall. This includes advice, enforcement or grant aid for repairs, improvement or adaptation.

Property Licences

For information on Property Licences please see the section on Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) at the end of the page.

Housing Renewal Policy

This policy is regularly updated and covers all areas of private sector housing where grant aid may be available.

See whether you could qualify for grant aid towards housing repairs, improvements or adaptations by reading

Home Improvement and Disabled Facilities Grants

Ring 020 8547 5535/6 and find out if you qualify for grant aid.

The Council's current policy on all forms of available help is laid out in the Housing Renewal Policy accessible above. The two following items, HOUSEPROUD and Energy conservation may also be appropriate to your needs.

Houseproud

The worry free way to repair, improve or adapt your home.  See the documents at the end of the page for further information.

Energy Conservation

An important part of the Council's work in improving housing conditions is making our homes more energy efficient through better designed and controlled heating together with improved thermal insulation. This has the additional benefit of protecting the environment from excessive harmful emissions.

Under the Home Energy Conservation Act (1995) the Council is required to submit a report annually to government concerning energy efficiency in residential accommodation.  The Council's Eleventh Progress Report (2007) for the period 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007 can be accessed from the Related Documents section at the end of this page.

Cold Busters is the name of a scheme offering 100% grants for up to £4,000 for energy efficiency works for qualifying residents.  Please ring for details whilst latest leaflet is being prepared for publication. (020 8547 5535 or 0208 547 5536)

Privately Rented Accommodation

Use the contact information below to register a complaint about your housing conditions or to ask for advice.

The Housing Act 2004 has introduced a radically new procedure for the evaluation and enforcement of housing conditions. It is the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS). As the name suggests, it is a risk rating system for specified hazards that might be encountered in the environment of a dwelling (including areas such as access and gardens etc related to the dwelling).  There are 29 specified hazards. The most notable innovation in this system is the importance given to the risk to health of poor energy efficiency, something that was barely considered under the old "Fitness for Human Habitation" standard.   Councils have a range of options for enforcement under this system - from the issue of a Hazard Awareness Notice to a Prohibition Notice. Appeals and adjudication under this, and other Housing Act 2004 provisions are to Residential Property Tribunals rather than to a County Court. All landlords and agents should make themselves aware of their duties in relation to the health and safety of their tenants.

Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) and the Housing Act 2004

This can include any house occupied by members of more than one household. (A household is defined as being comprised of the members of one family) This type of property provides for an important housing need but is known to present higher risks to health and safety than single household accommodation and often houses the most vulnerable occupants.. For this reason there has been specific legislation for HMOs, and the larger properties, presenting the greatest risk may be subject to licensing. It is essential for landlords to find out about licensing as the failure to apply to license a licensable property is a serious offence that from 6th July 2004 can carry a penalty of up to £20,000.

Part 2 of the Housing Act 2004 requires that all Local Housing Authorities in Engand and Wales run a licensing scheme for Houses in Multiple Occupation where five or more persons are sharing facilities in houses in three or more storeys. In addition, Local Housing Authorities could include properties that were registrable under existing HMO Registration and Control Schemes. If, after studying the information in the factsheet below and the public notice regarding Additional Licensing, you have any doubts as to whether your property is licensable please contact the Council using the contact information below.

Kingston has brought its registration and Control Scheme into licensing and the official public notice describing this is reproduced below.  (Read the note below if your property was converted into self contained flats and this was not done under post 1985 Building Regulation control)

A pdf file of the Council's application form for an HMO licence is available below for your information. Currently there is no facility to submit the application and pay the required fee online. We will accept a copy of the form that you have downloaded and printed, properly completed and with the accompanying fee. However, it is usually preferable for you to apply to receive the full application pack by post by contacting us using the information below.  This way you may also discuss any queries that you may have about HMO licensing.

Contact Us

For any complaints or queries about the condition of your privately rented accommodation you can contact Environmental Health.

If your complaint concerns security of tenure, harassment or similar landlord/tenant matters you should contact the Housing Advisory Service on 020 8547 5468

If your query concerns drainage you may find your answer at the Drainage and Sewage page.

Our postal address is:
The Borough Environmental Health Officer
Guildhall
Kingston upon Thames
KT1 1 EU

Telephone 020 8547 5535/6  
Fax 020 8547 5568
Email:  ehadmin@rbk.kingston.gov.uk