About Our Service

Residential Environmental Health can assist residents in relation to housing hazards and other matters such as pests, nuisance, public health issues, drainage problems and waste accumulation on private land.

As well as responding to housing problems raised by residents we also take a proactive approach to ensure that conditions in houses in multiple occupation (HMO) are maintained to a good standard.

We operate a licensing scheme for certain type of HMOs. If you require any further information regarding HMO's please contact us on 020 7641 8959.

Who can we help?

• Tenants of Housing Associations and private landlords
• People who own their own homes either as leaseholder or freeholder

In general we are unable to assist tenants of the Council and you will need to direct your enquiry to your local estate office. This is because we have no enforcement powers in these types of properties.

If you think that we can help, contact us.

How can we help?

If you have concerns regarding your housing conditions you should contact the Council on 020 7641 6161. The details of your request will be taken and a case raised for a Residential Environmental Health Officer to investigate.

What happens after you have contacted the Council?

• You should expect to receive a letter providing a reference number and contact details of the case officer who will be dealing with your enquiry.
• You should also expect to receive a call from the case officer within 3 working days of your enquiry.
• The investigating officer will discuss the details of your case with you, confirm whether this is an issue we can potentially investigate and if not provide you with details of who else may be able to assist you. The officer will arrange an appointment to come and see you
and carry out an assessment of the property or problem .

What are the likely outcomes of your complaint?

• The problem could be resolved informally with your landlord.
• We could take enforcement action on your behalf and serve a legal notice requiring the appropriate person to take action.
• If at the end of the notice expiry period the appropriate action has not been taken then the Council can consider instructing contractors to carry out the works (known as Works in Default) and / or prosecute.
• In some circumstances Residential Environmental Health may not be able to take action on your behalf but should be able to refer you to any relevant organisations that may be able to assist you further.
  
  

Contact Details

Westminster City Council, Premises Management Department, Residential Environmental Service, Westminster City Hall, 4th Floor, 64 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QP

Tel : 020 7641 6161

Fax : 020 7641 8504

Email: res@westminster.gov.uk