Private housing

Private Sector Housing Surveyors aim to improve housing conditions for Southend residents. Poor housing can cause ill health as well as affecting comfort and well being.

We deal with a range of household issues. including privately rented dwellings, houses in multiple occupation, owner occupier dwellings, empty properties and household conditions.

Our services include:

• Advice and information
• Enforcing set standards through formal powers
• Financial help (such as specialist grants/loans for improvements, repairs and adaptations.

Please select the relevant link from the list below for further information on the subject.

The Council gives private sector tenants advice about repairs and improvements to rented properties. It also enforces repairs and/or improvements that need to be made by the managing agent or landlord.

Welcome to the Landlord Information section. Here you should be able to find all the information you need to ably assist yourself and your tenant whilst they reside in your property.

This section has information about keeping properties energy efficient, the conditions that privately rented properties should be in, how the Council treats empty residential homes and gives people who own their property information and advice about how to improve their property through the means of a Home Assistance loan.

The Private Sector Housing Team assists the Adult & Community Services Department in funding major adaptations to owner-occupied and privately rented properties to meet some of the needs of disabled residents.

Consultation has been completed on a proposed designation with a decision to be made during 2012. Find out more information on the proposal.