Landlords

All privately rented property in Westminster should be free from significant hazards that can affect the health and wellbeing of residents and visitors. Environmental health officers respond to complaints and also proactively inspect privately rented properties to ensure they are free from hazards.

The Housing Health and Rating System (HHSRS) is normally used to determine whether any significant hazards are present. A guidance document at GOV.UK is available for property professionals detailing the types of hazards that may be identified and action that we can take.

Other legislation is often used to deal with problems such as pests, drainage problems and public health related complaints.

Our duty is to ensure that action is taken to remove significant hazards, usually by serving an Improvement Notice detailing the works required.

In most non-urgent situations a reasonable time period will be provided to comply with any formal notice requiring improvements to be made. Landlords are encouraged to engage with us to ensure that appropriate action and timeframes can be agreed prior to service of a formal notice.