Housing disrepair duties of landlords
Private landlords must ensure properties are free from category 1 Hazards. Category 1 Hazards are conditions within the property that are assessed as likely to cause adverse impact to tenants or occupiers or visitors health or safety in a one-year period.
Environmental Health have a duty under the Housing Act 2004 to carry out health and safety inspection if there is a likelihood of category 1 hazards and determine appropriate enforcement action.
Housing authority must take enforcement action for category 1 hazards and may take action for lesser category 2 hazards. Landlords will be charged for enforcement action, and the landlord is at risk from civil penalties or prosecution for non-compliance of housing improvement notice or prohibition orders.
Actions taken by environmental health are in accordance with Private Sector Enforcement and Civil Penalty Policy.