Filthy and verminous premises

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Filthy and/or verminous premises are properties that are considered to be infested with vermin (including rats, mice or other pests) or in such a filthy condition as to be prejudicial to health. Such properties are frequently characterised by an accumulation of material that can make access to the premises difficult and that may present a physical or fire risk to the occupants of adjoining premises.

Officers in the Council's Environmental Protection Team can take action to remedy such premises under the provisions of the Public Health Act 1936 or the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Such premises have to be dealt with sensitively and normally in partnership with the Social Services department and other organisations. Once the Council has been notified of such a premises, an Environmental Protection Officer will carry out an inspection of the premises to determine if enforcement action is required.

Discussions with the owner/occupier will take place to try and gain an agreement to remove all rubbish and articles and to thoroughly clean the property. If the owner/occupier fails to improve the state of the property, the Council can serve a statutory notice requiring the property to be cleansed and all rubbish and filthy articles removed. Failure to comply with the requirements of the notice may result in either prosecution and/or the Council carrying out the works in default (i.e. appointing a contractor to clean out the property) and recovering the costs back from the owner/occupier.

The Social Services Department should be consulted immediately in the case of any person who is suspected of suffering from a notifiable infectious disease, or appears unable to care for themselves. In the case of a deceased person, the Police should be contacted immediately.

For further advice or to report suspected filthy or verminous premises please contact the Environmental Protection Team:

 

Last updated: 12 July 2011