Private Sector Housing Team 

What Do We Do?

Deal with most aspects of private sector housing with an aim to improving conditions and living standards for both tenants and owner occupiers and making Darlington a more attractive place to live.

Our Role

Nobody wants to live in, or near to, run down and unsightly properties.  Working with owner/occupiers, landlords and tenants of private housing we aim to improve the standard of housing conditions throughout the Darlington Borough.  This can only be achieved by talking to and listening to landlords and their tenants.  By working together we can make a difference.

Who are we:

The Private Sector Housing Team
Town Hall, Darlington DL1 5QT
Telephone: 01325 388953  Fax: 01325 388446

Email housingrenewal@darlington.gov.uk

For Landlord Accreditation enquiries email las@darlington.gov.uk

Contacting the Private Sector Housing Team [online form]

Complaint or Enquiry about Private Housing Conditions [online form]

How Do We Do It?

We do it through:

  • Working with householders and private landlords
  • The Landlord Accreditation Scheme
  • Landlord Forum
  • Enforcement action
  • Working with other partners
  • Property registration/licensing
  • Training and consultation
  • Attracting funding

Our Functions

The Private Sector Housing Team will:

  • Deal with statutory nuisance due to poor housing conditions.
  • Carry out Health & Safety Inspections in response to complaints from occupiers.
  • Identify, inspect and improve the standards of houses in multiple occupation (HMO's)
  • HMO Licensing Scheme.
  • Reduce the number of empty properties within the Borough.
  • Deal with statutory nuisance and Public Health issues in relation to domestic drainage.
  • Carry out Immigration inspections for people moving to the area from outside the European Union.
  • Co-ordinate and manage the Borough's Landlord Accreditation Scheme & Landlord Forum.
  • Approve Grants and arrange Financial Assistance within the Private Sector
  • Deal with disrepair complaints

Where Do We Do It?

  • Empty properties
  • Private Properties & Rented Properties
  • Multiple Occupation Schemes
  • College accommodation
  • Houses in Multiple Occupation

When Do We Do It?

  • When Darlington residents complain about their properties or landlords
  • When Darlington residents complain about drainage problems in properties

The Private Sector Housing Strategy [pdf document]

The principal legislations we use are:

  • Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996
  • Environmental Protection Act 1990
  • The Building Act 1984
  • Local Government (Local Provisions) Act 1976
  • Local Government (Local Provisions) Act 1982
  • Environmental Protection Act 1990
  • Housing Act 2004
  • Public Health Act 1961 & 1936