Housing Guidance

The SCP can support you whilst you live in your privately rented home in the local community.

Here are our top tips for when you first move in:

Check your tenancy agreement and inventory before signing, take photos, note who is responsible for the maintenance of the garden spaces
Introduce yourselves to your neighbours – they can be a good source of information and support for living in the community!
Register with B&NES Council to see if you qualify for student exemption of council tax: Apply for Council Tax: student exemption
Register to Vote here and find out who your Ward Councillor is to get involved in local politics and have you voice heard in Bath.

Whilst you are living in your property it is normal to expect maintenance issues to crop up due to wear and tear.

If issues with appliances, furniture, or other maintenance issues arise first report them to your landlord or letting agent for repair.

The B&NES Council sets out Reasonable Time Periods for repairs to be made:

Emergency repairs which affect your health or safety should be rectified within 24 hours (e.g., a major electrical fault, or a blocked WC).
Urgent repairs which affect your comfort should be rectified within five working days (e.g., hot water, heating or fridge failure or a serious roof leak).
Other non-urgent repairs should be rectified within 20 working days (e.g., a shower breaking down, when you are still able to take baths.

You can report any unresolved issues to the Council via Report a problem with your rented home.

Your landlord must provide smoke alarms, but it is your responsibility to check they continue to work throughout your tenancy. Check them at least once a month and only take the batteries out when you need to replace them.

Is it your responsibility to maintain the garden at your rented HMO? Get in touch with our team on scp@bath.ac.uk to borrow our gardening kits to keep on top of overgrown weeds or branches.

You can report any unresolved issues to trading_standards@bathnes.gov.uk.

MEES & EPCs:

Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards are a set of rules for all landlords in England and Wales to ensure a minimum started of energy efficiency is met in rented homes.

Under Government legislation, all rented homes must have an Energy Performance Certificate with a rating of A to E. It is a legal requirement to have a valid EPC so do check your rating to ensure your landlord is meeting the minimum requirements.

Although the legal minimum is an E, there are things you can do to improve energy efficiency in your home:

Maximise Heating Efficiency; set the thermostat for 18-21°C to keep on constant but low throughout the day; stop drafts by sealing gaps in doors and windows with draft excluders; use the curtains wisely and close them at night to trap the heat.
Layer Up; thermal layers, slippers, dressing gowns, and blankets are all a great way to keep warm without utilising heating. Utilise hot water bottles – all items can be found cheaply or second-hand.
Be Smart About Energy Usage; track usage to understand how much is being used and how to cut back if necessary; switch off standby by unplugging devices and turn off light switches when not in use; used LED bulbs to consume less energy.
Save on Laundry and Water; air-dry clothes, but make sure you ventilate the area to avoid damp and mould from growing.
Be Proactive with Your Housing; understand your contract, especially if your rent includes bills, check the usage terms to avoid unexpected charges; prevent frozen pipes by keeping heating on low when you’re away; report damp and mould to your landlord/letting agent quickly

More information on MEES, EPCs, and advice on energy efficiency can be found via Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) in Rented Homes.

Damp and mould:

Damp and mould can be common in all types of housing, but firstly it is important to know the difference between damp and condensation:

Condensation is water vapour in the atmosphere changing into water droplets on cold surfaces. This can come from a variety of normal household activities such as showering, cooking, and drying clothes indoors.
Structural damp can either be penetrating, where damp has penetrated through the walls of a building and makes the wall ‘wet’ and strained, or rising, where moisture rises through the building from the ground creating a tide mark.

Condensation can build up and create, or exacerbate, damp and mould within a property. Here are our top tips for reducing condensation to reduce and stop damp and mould overall:

First, report any issues to your landlord or letting agent.
Next, check if the heating is working effectively and is switched on. It is recommended to have central heating systems on at a lower level constantly than sporadically at higher temperatures – between 18°C and 21°C should be sufficient. This also works out more cost and energy efficient than random peak times.
Ventilate all rooms well by keeping a small gap between furniture and the wall and keeping windows on trickle ventilation throughout the day.
Trickle ventilation devices may already be installed on more modern windows, however if not this just means keeping the window open slightly to let a continuous air flow into the room rather than having the window wide open.
When cooking and showering, use an extractor fan or open an window to allow moisture to escape the room and prevent water droplets from remaining on walls.

If you have reported damp and mould issues to your landlord or letting agent, followed the guidance above for several weeks and the issue is not being resolved please report it to B&NES Housing Standards via Report a problem with your rented home.

If you have any concerns with the standard of your home, please do let us know by emailing scp@bath.ac.uk.