An initial visit is required to the property.
During this visit, the inspecting Officer will check that the property is safe for the occupants. The Officer will be looking at factors such as:
- That property is structurally stable
- That property is free from dampness
- That adequate kitchen (cooking, food preparation and storage) & bathroom facilities are provided
- That the maximum number of people being/to be accommodated is feasible for the size of property and amenities provided
- Satisfactory internal layouts, i.e. no internal habitable room without a window, no living rooms in hallways or on landings, no subterranean bedrooms or living rooms & no WC/bathrooms more than one floor distant from a bedroom
- That rooms are big enough in floor plan area for their existing or proposed use in accordance with set out acceptable minimum sizes for rooms
- Check that adequate natural lighting and ventilation is achieved, i.e. no conservatories up against rear living room windows preventing natural ingress of external air
- That hot and cold water services work
- That property is in general good repair
- That appropriate fire precautions are in place. Please see the Fire Safety page for further information.
The landlord of the property to be Accredited is also requested to supply a copy of a certificate proving that the domestic electrical system is safe – normally a NICEIC Periodic Inspection Report for an electrical installation and a GAS SAFE landlord’s gas safety certificate if there are gas installations within the property.
It is the intention of this Council to initiate a Network for all local authorities that either already operate a scheme such as Property Accreditation or wish to initiate a similar scheme of their own. Such a network will enable the exchange of information and promote supported development of this type of landlord initiative.
This website can be used as a forum for you to pose questions, seek advice or make suggestions relating to what you have found to work best in relation to Property Accreditation type schemes. Your council may already operate such a scheme and if it does, we would like to hear about it so that the information exchange can be extended as far as possible.
If you would be interested in such a network then please email us
If you would like to comment on the Accreditation web pages or would like more information about property accreditation in Bath & North East Somerset, please contact Housing Standards & Improvement Team, Social & Housing Services, PO Box 3343, Bath, BA1 2ZH, tel: 01225 396110, or email:-
housing@bathnes.gov.uk