Overcrowding standard
A property is considered to be overcrowded if either the room
standard or the space standard is exceeded.
Room standard
There should be sufficient rooms in each individual letting so
that no male and female aged 12, or over, should have to sleep in
the same room, unless they are living together as ‘husband and
wife’.
| Number of rooms |
Maximum number of people |
| 1 |
2 |
| 2 |
3 |
| 3 |
5 |
| 4 |
7.5 |
| 5 or more |
2 for each room |
|
Space standard
The standard specifies the maximum number of people who can
sleep in any room considered suitable for use as a sleeping room
and the maximum number who may sleep in any individual letting when
taking into account the number of sleeping rooms available to the
occupants.
| Floor area of the room |
Maximum number of people |
| 10.2 m.sq. or more |
2 |
| Between 8.3m.sq. and 10.2m.sq. |
1.5 |
| Between 6.5m.sq. and 8.3m.sq. |
1 |
| Between 4.6m.sq. and 6.5m.sq. |
0.5 |
Fitness for habitation
The housing fitness standard was introduced by the government to
set the minimum requirements needed within a property for human
habitation.
The current fitness standard was introduced under the Local
Government and Housing Act 1989 which inserted a new s.604 in the
Housing Act 1985.
The requirements of the act sets out that a dwelling should:
- be free from disrepair
- be structurally stable
- be free from dampness prejudicial to health of the
occupants
- have adequate provision for lighting, heating and
ventilation
- have an adequate piped supply of wholesome water
- have an effective system for drainage of foul, waste and
surface water
- have a suitably located WC for exclusive use of the
occupants
- have a bath or shower and wash-hand basin, with hot and cold
water
- have satisfactory facilities for the preparation and cooking of
food including a sink with hot and cold water.