Private Sector Housing Team at every council or not

chickmug

On letting problems I keep reading advice to contact the Private Sector Housing Team as if you will find them at every council. However this is not the case so which councils have them and why not all?

lynzpower

I think every council ( certainly unitary autorities) should have one. Your smaller parish council probably wont as they tend to deal with housing in general.

There is a bit of legislation ( cant remember what it is) that housing authorities have to have access to private sector lettings in order ot find those in need a suitable place asap.

Where have you struggled to find them? I know they exist for definate accross London & SE

chickmug

lynzpower wrote: »

I think every council ( certainly unitary autorities) should have one. Your smaller parish council probably wont as they tend to deal with housing in general.

There is a bit of legislation ( cant remember what it is) that housing authorities have to have access to private sector lettings in order ot find those in need a suitable place asap.

Where have you struggled to find them? I know they exist for definate accross London & SE

Its a long story why but every now and again I need to help people with problems with their LL & LA and in recent months it has been in Somerset and Devon.

lynzpower

Will have a little gander for you

chickmug

lynzpower wrote: »

Will have a little gander for you

Perhaps when I called I was too easily put off by not getting past the telephonist. I usually refer people to Shelter who every time have been excellent.

lynzpower

North Somerset

http://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/Housing/homelessness/privatelandlords/

South Somerset

The Housing Advice Centre is also the base for the South Somerset Accommodation Scheme. Managed on the Council's behalf by Knightstone Housing Association, the Scheme gives advice and assistance to homeless single and childless couples with finding and securing private rented accommodation. The Scheme offers a Bond (deposit) to private landlords.

http://www.southsomerset.gov.uk/index.jsp?articleid=637

For some reason my antivirus is blocking the knightstone page, maybe youll have more luck?

I searched for homelessness+ somerset+private landlord

HTH

chickmug

lynzpower wrote: »

North Somerset

http://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/Housing/homelessness/privatelandlords/

South Somerset


http://www.southsomerset.gov.uk/index.jsp?articleid=637

For some reason my antivirus is blocking the knightstone page, maybe youll have more luck?

I searched for homelessness+ somerset+private landlord

HTH

My need for Devon one was a few months ago and I called Teignbridge Council and also Devon County Council. The need for Somerset was just before Christmas when I called South Somerset council in Yeovil. Since then I feel Shelter seems to give the best advice and even though I used to say CAB I find that very very much depends on the person of office you get. Shelter seem to be able to answer every time straight off and on the phone.

lynzpower

Is it to find someone to help get housing for someone who is homeless, or is it to offer a private property to LA tenants?

TJ27

The larger councils should have a specific team but some of the smaller councils might have one or two people who deal with various other things too. These people are generally environmental health officers, who can deal with noise, food, pollution, etc but can also deal with private housing complaints. If you get passed around by a switchboard person, it's probably a good idea just to speak to an EHO. If they can't deal with your enquiry personally, they'll point you in the right direction.

squinty

In areas where there are two tiers (ie county council and district council) the responsiiblity is with the District Council. (However, in some areas there may be joint working where one team covers more than one district)

Although the term 'private sector housing team' sounds a bit grand, in some authorities this may be just one or two people. They are usually in either the environmental health dept or the housing dept.

Nearly all councils seem to have an a to z guide on the front page - for Teinbridge typing housing into this search give you 01626 361101 as a contact and [EMAIL="envhousing@teignbridge.gov.uk"]envhousing@teignbridge.gov.uk[/EMAIL] as a contact. Typing Housing into the South somerset site opens a whole menu of other choices and contacts including 01935 462462 as the contact for their housing standards team. Both these took less than 30 seconds

chickmug

squinty wrote: »

In areas where there are two tiers (ie county council and district council) the responsiiblity is with the District Council. (However, in some areas there may be joint working where one team covers more than one district)

Although the term 'private sector housing team' sounds a bit grand, in some authorities this may be just one or two people. They are usually in either the environmental health dept or the housing dept.

Nearly all councils seem to have an a to z guide on the front page - for Teinbridge typing housing into this search give you 01626 361101 as a contact and [EMAIL="envhousing@teignbridge.gov.uk"]envhousing@teignbridge.gov.uk[/EMAIL] as a contact. Typing Housing into the South somerset site opens a whole menu of other choices and contacts including 01935 462462 as the contact for their housing standards team. Both these took less than 30 seconds

I really am familier with Google but had/have no need as I made phone calls to both counties authorities and both dendied any such service/facilty. It may be a case of someone who may of been able to help but I unearthed no one.

As a retired EA I seem to get involved with hosuing related issues in my spare time but still feel for tenants with problems, which is the usual Shelter are the best. I regularly also get asked about how to find housing but that is a different story not for this thread.