The Council charges the following fees for housing services:

• Licences for Houses in Multiple Occupation - £400-£495
• Caravan Site Licences - No charge 

Local authorities have the power to charge owners of homes for enforcement action under section 49 of the Housing Act 2004. The Council will charge the owner of a property (not a tenant) for the time spent by officers in determining whether to serve the notice, identifying any action to be specified in the notice, and serving the notice. We will make a charge to recover expenses when we:

• Serve an improvement notice
• Make a prohibition order
• Take emergency remedial action
• Make an emergency prohibition order, 
• Make a demolition order

We will not make a charge when we serve a hazard awareness notice. The Council reserves the right not to invoice or to waive a charge for enforcement action in exceptional circumstances with each case being considered on its own merits. This decision will be made by the Head of Service.

The Council will also recover all costs incurred in enforcing housing related legislation. When a charge is imposed under section 49 of the Housing Act 2004 or for works in default, the sum recoverable becomes a local land charge on the premises concerned. If enforcement action has been taken against a named person or legal entity the Council will seek to recover the charge by invoice. If the debt is not recovered by payment of an invoice or other methods, interest will be added to the debt at a compound interest rate of 8%* starting from the date the charge became applicable until the debt is settled in full.

For more information see the Housing Enforcement Policy

If you require any further information please contact:
Housing Standards Team
Tel: 01283 508680
Email: housing@eaststaffsbc.gov.uk