CIEH welcomes removal of notice requirement for housing inspections

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) has welcomed the agreement by the House of Lords to a government amendment to the Renters' Rights Bill removing the current requirement for local authorities to give landlords 24 hours’ notice of an inspection of a residential property.

CIEH has repeatedly called for the removal of this requirement during the passage of the Bill through parliament.

The 24 hours’ notice requirement for tenants will remain. Notice to the landlord will now be provided after the entry has taken place.

Baroness Taylor of Stevenage, the Minister leading on the Bill in the Lords, told peers during the debate: “Local authorities have told us that providing notice can result in unscrupulous landlords hiding evidence of breaches, intimidating tenants, and temporarily fixing issues before reverting to non-compliance.”

She made clear, however, that the change was not intended to impact on good landlords.

Mark Elliott, President of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, said:

“We are delighted that the Government has recognised the need to remove this requirement, which has long been a barrier to effective enforcement of housing legislation.

“We have raised this issue with parliamentarians through our submissions on the Bill and as an agenda item for a ministerial meeting.

“The current requirement provides an opportunity for the landlord to appear at the inspection, which can be an intimidating experience for the tenant making the complaint.

“Local authorities should be able to conduct such visits without giving the landlord 24 hours’ notice, permitting private conversations with the tenant before the local authority contacts the landlord to notify them if works are required.”