Housing Act 2004

The Housing Act 2004 received Royal assent on the 18th November 2004. It introduces wide new powers for dealing with poor conditions in the private rented sector. Most of the new powers in the Housing Act 2004 will be brought into force by Ministerial orders expected during 2005 and 2006. The main provisions of the Act are:

The Health and Housing Safety ratings System (HHSRS) for assessing fitness- this will replace the housing fitness regime described in the Housing Act 1985. It will incorporate external health & safety risks such as noise pollution, fire hazards and radon.

Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation
The purpose of licensing is to:
— raise standards of management by landlords /agents
_ provide Local Housing Authorities with adequate measures to
ensure licensing works
_ protection for vunerable tenants
_ high risk HMOs are identified so HHSRS can target worse cases..

Selective licensing of all private rented homes in areas of low demand (for persistent anti-social behaviour)- in such cases, Councils will be able to require private landlords to apply for licences that would normally...