A messy flat

A messy home or an excessive amount of belongings does not in itself constitute a health hazard under the Health Protection Act. Individual freedom guarantees residents the right to live as they see fit, provided that their living conditions do not cause a health hazard or risk to others. If there is a suspicion that a messy home is causing a health hazard, and, for example, an unusual smell is spreading into the stairwell and other flats, you should first contact the property owner or their representative (usually the property manager or the housing association’s board).

The Housing Companies Act and the articles of association set out the responsibilities and obligations of the housing company and its shareholders. The property owner may carry out an inspection of the flat in order to issue necessary cleaning instructions and to assess the need for repairs. If necessary, the property owner may also consider, for example, temporarily taking possession of the flat.

If the situation is not rectified despite the property owner’s requests for the tenant to clean the property and other measures taken, the property owner may contact the environmental health inspector. A request for a property inspection must be made in writing: Property Inspection Request Form. The environmental health inspector may only inspect the property if the occupant gives their consent. During their visit, the environmental health inspector will only assess potential health hazards in the property, such as unusual odours, and may, if necessary, instruct the property owner (housing association) to take action to eliminate the health hazard. The occupant may also be issued with a cleaning order.

This content has been translated using AI