To help alleviate the spread of the disease, the Housing Enforcement Team will only be carrying out essential visits where tenants are living in accommodation with more serious hazards that a landlord has failed to remedy.
Where a complaint regarding poor conditions is received, the case officer will contact the tenant(s) and ask them to provide photographic or video evidence to enable the Council to assess the urgency of the case and deciding if inspection is necessary. The Council is still responsible for investigating poor housing conditions and will do its utmost to ensure that Landlords fulfil their legal obligations.
Landlords are expected to arrange for necessary works to be carried out in the property to ensure the good standard of accommodation is maintained. Any contractors arranged to visit residential property should be made aware of necessary steps that should be taken to prevent the risk of infection or spread of the virus. Government Guide on safe working is people’s homes can be found here
No work should be carried out in any household which is isolating or where an individual is being shielded, unless it is to remedy a direct risk to the safety of the household.
The Government has provided Coronavirus (COVID-19) Guidance for Landlords and Tenants on
- Amendments to eviction procedures by the Coronavirus Act 2020
- Court action on possession cases during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
- Health and safety obligations, repairs and inspections in the context of Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Further information can be find on the GOV.uk website
