Private housing

Tenanted Properties

Tenants

Your landlord is under a duty to provide you with a safe and hazard free place to live. The council want to make sure that your landlord does this.  If you have concerns about your accommodation then you should contact the Private Sector Housing Team at the council by telephone (01727) 819447 or email privatesectorhousing@stalbans.gov.uk. Problems that can be dealt with include – damp and mould, cold, trip hazards, electrics, fire safety and overcrowding. If there are serious problems we will write to your landlord to ask him how he is going to deal with your problems. If we do not receive any co-operation we will consider the possibility of taking enforcement action. 

Landlords

The council is keen to work with owners of private rented properties. We are happy to offer advice and assistance wherever possible. The council assesses properties using the Housing Health and Safety Rating System. Guidance for landlords can be found at http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/pdf/150940.pdf. There are occasions where there are serious problems at some premises. Where the council becomes aware of category 1 hazards it is under a duty to take enforcement action. For other hazards it has the power to do so. The council will only do this where owners have failed to co-operate. Where enforcement action is taken a charge will be made of £250 per notice per recipient. This charge is only made for enforcement taken under the Housing Act 2004. The charge will be reviewed periodically.

Houses in Multiple Occupation

An HMO is a house occupied by persons who do not form a single household such as bedsits, hostels and shared houses. These are properties where tenants share facilities such as bathrooms and kitchens and where living conditions can be stressful.

For more information on Houses in Multiple Occupation

Home Improvement Grants

St Albans District Council are able to provide a range of grants to owner occupiers to help them improve/repair/stay in their homes. All such grants are means tested.

For more information on Home Improvement Grants

Immigration Entry Clearance-Property Inspections

We offer property inspections to support immigration applications within St Albans. There is a charge for this service, which needs to be paid before an inspection is undertaken. The current fee for this service is £105.

We inspect properties on request to ensure they are suitable, safe and will not become overcrowded with additional residents.

For more information on property inspections

Caravan Site Licences

The Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 requires the occupier (usually the owner) of land to hold a licence if he wants to use it as a caravan site.  The licence is issued by the Council.

A site license is NOT required in any of the following circumstances:

• A caravan sited within the curtilage (boundary) of a dwelling and its use is incidental to the dwelling. This means it cannot be occupied separately;
• A single caravan sited for not more than two consecutive nights, provided no other caravan has been stationed there for a maximum of 28 days in any 12 months;
• Up to three caravans on a site of not less than five acres for a maximum of 28 days in any 12 months;
• Sites occupied by exempted organisations such as the Caravan Club;
• Sites of up to 5 caravans certified by an exempt organisation and which are for members only;
• Sites occupied by the local authority. These are usually gypsy sites;
• Sites for temporary and special purposes such as caravan rallies, agricultural and forestry workers, building and engineering sites and travelling salesmen;
• A site for tents only can be used for a maximum of 28 days in any 12 months.

For more information on Caravan Site Licencing 

Warm Home Discount Scheme

The Warm Home Discount Scheme is a four-year scheme that runs from April 2011 to March 2015 to help low-income and vulnerable households with energy costs.

For more information on the Warm Home Discount Scheme

Electric Storage Heaters

If you have electric storage heaters you will probably find them expensive to run. HIt is possible to make better use of them and hopefully reduce your fuel bills.

For more information on electric storage heaters.

Home Energy Efficiency

Everyone uses energy at home both for heating (space and water), lighting and electrical appliances.  Unfortunately a lot of this energy is wasted.  Energy efficiency is about using energy in the most effective way because wasted energy is wasted money.

For more information on energy efficiency go to our webpage http://www.stalbans.gov.uk/environment-and-planning/sustainability/energy-efficiency/

For more information on renewable energy such as micro wind power and solar heating please go to our webpage http://www.stalbans.gov.uk/environment-and-planning/sustainability/renewable-energy/