Filthy and verminous

All Local Authorities are required under the Public Health Act 1936 (Section 83 as amended by section 35 of the Public Health Act 1961) to investigate any complaint received about odour from a premise or conditions that may be prejudicial to health to person(s) entering.

Once a complaint has been received, ownership is established ie whether the property is privately owned or council property. A private rented property is the responsibility of the landlord to deal with in the first instance. Social landlords, who include the Council and Housing Associations, have tenancy agreements that will allow them access to the property to ensure the agreement is not being breached.

This department provides advice on how to clean the property up but if the owner/occupier is unwilling or unable to have the property cleaned we can intervene. We can serve a legal notice on the owner or the occupier of the premise. This gives them 7 days to have the premises cleaned, should the works not be completed then the Council can carry out the works in default. All costs incurred are recovered from the owner/occupier.