Housing standards and financial assistance unit
The Housing Standards and Financial Assistance Unit is a unit with two principle services. The first is the Housing Standards Unit with the responsibility of working with private sector landlords to raise the standard of conditions in the private rented sector. The second service is the Financial Assistance Unit which is responsible for the delivery of the grants and loans programme.
The Housing Standards service works closely with private sector landlords to ensure that their properties comply with the minimum legal standards as set out by the Housing Act 2004 and where ever possible, encourage landlords to go beyond the minimum standard by joining the voluntary Landlord Accreditation scheme. Invariably the work for the service is generated by either a tenant complaint, landlord advice, or a routine inspection of a House in Multiple Occupation. (A House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) is a property divided into self contained flats or flats with an element of sharing such as a kitchen or bathroom.) Some HMO’s require a license. Please see the link for further detail. The team will inspect the property using the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS). For HMO’s there are additional requirements. The service also offer an inspection service for immigration applicants who need to satisfy the High Commission that the property that they propose to move to in the United Kingdom is suitable.
The Financial Assistance Unit provide means tested grants and low interest loans to assist vulnerable clients with general maintenance of their property. The service also provide Disabled Facilities Grants for clients who require adaptations to their home to enable them to access facilities in and around their home. The functional need is identified by the Occupational Therapist at Somerset County Council. For more information please click on the link.
Contact us
Housing Standards enquiries
Sedgemoor or West Somerset area; 01278 435747 or by email at privatesector.housing@sedgemoor.gov.uk
Taunton Deane; 01823 356341 or by email at housingstandards@tauntondeane.gov.uk
Grant or loan enquiries
Sedgemoor, Taunton Deane or West Somerset area; 01278 435747 or by email at privatesector.housing@sedgemoor.gov.uk